Method and apparatus for the separation and recovery of furfural and organic volatile acids, such as acetic acid and formic acid, from the process of preparation of furfural

Abstract From the Canadian patent

The object of the present invention is a method for the separation and recovery of furfural and organic volatile acids from a vapour mixture obtained in the process of preparation of furfural. According to the method, from a vapour mixture containing water vapour furfural and organic acids and escaping from a reaction vessel operating on the counter flow principle wherein, the reaction to form furfural takes place organic acids, are separated and recovered before the vapour mixture is condensed and conducted to the furfural concentration process. The separation is performed by absorbing the organic acids from the vapour mixture into the concentrated furfural solution in an absorption tower …