Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Suresh M Vora

Michael S Chen

William Joseph Mazzafro

Pierre L Brian

This invention relates to an improved process for reducing solute in a vapor stream and, particularly, to the adaption of this process in concentrating solutions in an evaporator wherein the solution is heated to volatilize solvent. The improvement for reducing solute in the vapor stream resides in (a) the utilization of a wire mesh mist eliminator pad having a wire diameter of from 0.001-0.05 inches, an interfacial area from 50-200 ft.sup.2 /ft.sup.3, a void space of about 90-99 percent and a packing thickness of 4-16 inches and (b) spraying a liquid through the mist eliminator pad, the liquid being sprayed uniformly over the surface of the mist eliminator pad at a rate of 0.6-2.5 pounds liquid per pound of vapor to provide a wetting rate of 0.1-0.25 gallons per minute per square foot of mist eliminator surface area. The process has been particularly advantageous in the multistage concentration of corrosive products particularly in the concentration of a 60-70% sulfuric acid solution to about 93 percent.

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Whitehall, PA, United States of America

Suresh M Vora