Fractionation plant - for natural fatty-acids and their esters based on cooling by evaporation of solvent

摘要

The substances to be fractionated are dissolved esp in hexane and separation of the various components takes place as a result of the cooling produced by evaporation of the solvent, at least partially, in vacuum applied to the main fractionation vessel, or mutli-floor column, via a regulator valve, the solvent being recovered from other gases by fractional condensation. The resultant mixture in its cooled state is passed first through a filter to separate out the solidified components, the residual filtrate being collected and fed back to the fractionation vessel by a pump as required. Significantly faster and cheaper in terms of power requirements than direct cooling methods reduced risk of fermentation etc.