Separation of heavy ends from streams of halogenated alkanes

Abstract

Provided is a method and system for separating heavy ends from a halogenated alkane in a waste stream. The method includes: (a) removing a bottom fraction containing heavy ends from a catalyst recovery unit and conveying the bottom fraction to a vessel; (b) introducing steam into the bottom fraction containing heavy ends; (c) removing a halogenated alkane vapor and a water vapor from the waste treatment unit; (d) condensing the halogenated alkane and water vapors; and (e) separating the halogenated alkane phase and water phase from the heavy ends.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for the separation of heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream, comprising: 
 (a) removing a bottom fraction containing heavy ends from a catalyst recovery unit and conveying said bottom fraction to a vessel;    (b) introducing steam into said bottom fraction containing heavy ends;    (c) removing halogenated alkane vapor and water vapor from said treatment unit;    (d) condensing said halogenated alkane and water vapors;    (e) separating the halogenated alkane phase from the water phase; and    (f) purging the heavy ends, which remain in the treatment unit either periodically or continuously.    
     
     
         2 . The method for the separation of heavy ends in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 drying the halogenated alkane phase.    
     
     
         3 . The method for separation of heavy ends in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 processing the halogenated alkane to manufacture a purified product.    
     
     
         4 . The method for the separation of heavy ends in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 converting said water phase into steam and reusing said steam to treat a further bottom fraction containing heavy ends.    
     
     
         5 . The method for the separation of heavy ends in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 removing said bottom fraction containing heavy ends from said catalyst recovery unit and conveying a part of said bottom fraction to said vessel.    
     
     
         6 . The method for the separation of heavy ends in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said heavy ends is a mixture containing catalyst, solvent, metal particles, metal chlorides and high boiling chlorinated by-products.  
     
     
         7 . A method for the separation of heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream, comprising: 
 (a) removing a bottom fraction containing heavy ends from a catalyst recovering unit and conveying said bottom fraction to a vessel;    (b) maintaining the temperature of said vessel above the boiling point of water at a predetermined pressure;    (c) introducing water into said vessel where a portion of the water is converted into steam and is mixed with said heavy ends and a portion of unconverted water fluid to form a haloalkane vapor, and removing a portion of the vapors from the vessel;    (d) condensing said haloalkane mixture and the remaining portion of steam; and    (e) separating a halogenated alkane phase from the water recovered.    
     
     
         8 . The method for the separation of heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 passing said haloalkane vapor and steam from step (c) through a column to further fractionate the mixture.    
     
     
         9 . The method for the separation of heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein step (b) is carried out by: 
 operating said vessel at a pressure in the range of about 0.1 to 5.0 atmospheres.    
     
     
         10 . The method for the separation of heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein step (b) is carried out by: 
 operating said vessel at a pressure in the range of about 0.5 to 1.5 atmospheres.    
     
     
         11 . The method for the separation of heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein step (b) is carried out by: 
 operating said vessel at a temperature range of about 40 to 150° C.    
     
     
         12 . The method for the separation of heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein step (b) is carried out by: 
 operating said vessel at a temperature range of about 40 to 115° C.    
     
     
         13 . The method for the separation of heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 treating said water which has been recovered to remove or to neutralize any acidity present.    
     
     
         14 . The method for the separation of heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 recycling the water which has been recovered to treat a further halogenated alkane stream containing heavy ends.    
     
     
         15 . The method for the separation of heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein 
 said halogenated alkane phase is further treated to manufacture a purified product.    
     
     
         16 . A system for separating heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream, comprising: 
 (a) a waste treatment unit for receiving a bottom fraction containing heavy ends from a catalyst recovery unit;    (b) a steam source for providing steam to said waste treatment unit to remove a halogenated alkane phase and a water phase from said waste treatment unit;    (c) a condenser for condensing said halogenated alkane and water phases; and    (d) a vessel for separating the alkane and water phases.    
     
     
         17 . A system for separating heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream, comprising: 
 (a) a waste treatment unit for receiving a bottom fraction containing heavy ends from a catalyst recovery unit;    (b) a water source for providing water to said waste treatment unit, where a portion of the water is converted into steam and is mixed with said heavy ends and a portion of unconverted water fluid to form a haloalkane vapor mixture with steam;    (c) a condenser for condensing said haloalkane mixture and the remainder portion of said steam; and    (d) a vessel for and separating the halogenated alkane phase from the water recovered.    
     
     
         18 . The system for separating heavy ends from a halogenated alkane stream, further comprising: 
 a column to further fractionate said haloalkane mixture from step (b).