摘要 |
A process for separating components of a liquid mixture comprising a more adsorbable component (A), for example C1 to C6 carboxylic acids, and a less adsorbable component (B), for example water, wherein the relative adsorbity of component (A), component (B) and a desorbent liquid (D) with respect to an adsorbent in an adsorption column is in the order D>A>B, which process comprises the steps in sequence of: (a) passing the liquid mixture through an adsorption column containing the adsorbent and selectively adsorbing component (A) while discharging a stream enriched in component (B); (b) rinsing the adsorbent in the adsorption column after step (a) with desorbent liquid (D) which is immiscible with component (B) whereby component (A) is displaced from adsorbent by desorbent (D) and withdrawing from the adsorption column a first liquid phase stream comprising a mixture of component (A) and component (B) and withdrawing from the adsorption column a second liquid phase stream comprising a mixture of desorbent (D) and component (A); and (c) thermally displacing desorbent (D) from the adsorbent in the adsorption column after step (b). Preferably, the desorbent (D) forms an azeotrope with component (B). Suitable adsorbents are highly micro-porous activated carbons.
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