Patent ID: 11857921
Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF THE STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A process for capturing and converting fumigants using an absorber/scrubber apparatus, said process comprising the steps of:
a) feeding an alcohol and metal hydroxide buffer solution into said absorber/scrubber apparatus;
b) continuously feeding an alkyl halide fumigant/air mixture into said absorber/scrubber apparatus such that said alkyl halide fumigant/air mixture contacts said alcohol and metal hydroxide buffer solution, wherein at least a portion of a fumigant component of said alkyl halide fumigant/air mixture transfers from said alkyl halide fumigant/air mixture to said alcohol and metal hydroxide buffer solution to thereby create a reaction by which, said fumigant component reacts with a metal hydroxide component of said alcohol and metal hydroxide buffer solution to yield a second mixture comprising product alcohol, unreacted metal hydroxide, and a metal halide;
c) feeding said second mixture from said absorber/scrubber apparatus to an absorbing drum and combining it with a small make-up stream, which contains absorbing alcohol, and a make-up alkali stream, which contains metal hydroxide and alcohol at a certain concentration, to form a discharge stream;
d) dividing said discharge stream into a purge stream, comprising said unreacted metal hydroxide, said product alcohol and said metal halide, and an absorbing solution stream;
e) separating said metal halide from said purge stream to yield solid metal halide, wherein said dividing and separating steps are performed continuously and in conjunction with steps a)-c); and
f) recirculating said absorbing solution stream into said absorber/scrubber apparatus, wherein said absorbing solution stream is used as said alcohol and metal hydroxide buffer solution during the repetition of step a).