US 12,109,510 B2
Methods of solvent removal at ambient temperatures—cryovap
Vladimir Kolesnichenko, New Orleans, LA (US); Galina Goloverda, New Orleans, LA (US); Igor Kolesnichenko, New Orleans, LA (US); and Guangdi Wang, New Orleans, LA (US)
Assigned to Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA (US)
Filed by Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA (US)
Filed on Dec. 10, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/118,319.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/946,881, filed on Dec. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0178287 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
Int. Cl. B01D 11/04 (2006.01); B01D 3/10 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 11/0492 (2013.01) [B01D 3/10 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of removing at least one solvent from a mixture comprising the at least one solvent and a product, the method comprising:
a) providing an apparatus comprising a first container, a second container, and a hollow tube, wherein:
i) the first and second containers are fluidically connected to each other via the hollow tube;
ii) the first container, second container or hollow tube further comprise a stopcock;
iii) the first container contains the mixture comprising the at least one solvent and the product, wherein the at least one solvent is high-boiling solvent, and the mixture is maintained at an ambient temperature; and
iv) the second container contains the at least one solvent alone;
b) adding a volatile co-solvent to the first container and the second container;
c) opening the stopcock and applying a vacuum via a vacuum pump to the apparatus, via the stopcock, for a time, then closing the stopcock, wherein a vapor pressure of the volatile co-solvent is higher than a pressure provided by the vacuum pump;
d) optionally warming the first container to a first temperature, for a first period;
e) cooling the second container to a second temperature, for a second period; and
f) recovering the product from the first container and the at least one solvent from the second container,
wherein the volatile co-solvent is selected from the group consisting of:
hydrocarbons; chlorinated hydrocarbons; polar aprotic solvents; water; and alcohols.