METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER - A NEW SOLVENT FOR PHENOL AND ACETIC ACID EXTRACTION FROM WASTEWATER

摘要

In order to remove phenol from wastewater several solvents are used: aromatics, butyl acetate, and diisopropylether. Liquid-liquid experimental data in the system water-phenol-methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) shows a much higher distribution coefficient for this solvent than other solvents. Similarly, the liquid-liquid experimental data show the same high distribution coefficient for this solvent in the water-acetic acid-MTBE system. Based on these experimental data, industrial plants for phenol and acetic acid extraction with MTBE have been designed. The industrial plants have two parts: the liquid-liquid extraction column and solvent recovery from the two phases: the extract phase (MTBE phase) and the water phase. Solvent recovery from water phase is necessary as the solubility of MTBE in water is nearly 4% by mass. Economic calculations show that in the case of phenol, the annual operating cost is under the value of the recovered phenol and a profit is obtained. In the case of acetic acid, even with two recovery columns, the process is much more advantageous than ordinary distillation or azeotropic distillation with butyl acetate.