Solvent recovery systems are the process of recovering and reusing solvents used in the extraction of cannabis. Chemical solvents are too costly, particularly in the commercial cannabis sector. Solvent recovery is a great technique to save money due to the high cost of solvents. Solvents used in cannabis extraction procedures, such as hexane, butane, propane, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol, can be recycled and repurposed.

After using the solvents, distillery operations collect and separate them. Special distillery tanks heat and separate the solvents when they approach boiling and condense into vapor. An air-cooled condenser collects the steam vapor. The solvents cool to a pure liquid that may be reused after chilling.

Work of Solvent Recovery System:

Solvent recovery via distillation separates volatile and nonvolatile solutions; boiling and condensing occur in a tank, akin to vapor degreaser. Solvents and pollutants have varying boiling points; paint thinner exemplifies efficient paint removal from guns and parts. Because the solvent boils at considerably lower temperatures than paint, boiling the mixture results in the pure solvent in one tank and paint sludge components in another.

Fractional vs. Simple Distillation and How to Segregate Multiple Solvents?

Simple distillation attempts to separate one solvent in the solution and recover the bulk of the solvent in the solution, as described above and shown by the solvent recycling example. Hence, simple distillation is the process of condensing hot-boiled vapors directly from the solvent recycler’s boiling tank. Because condensing occurs so near to the boil “sump,” only one volatile solvent can be recovered, and the purity of the solvent may contain trace amounts of non-volatile contaminants carried by the boiling, volatile vapors. Vapor degreasers employ the same technique. Sometimes, the need arises for recoveries greater than 99 percent, although the recovery of a single volatile solvent can occasionally reach that level.

 

Latest Blog: Advantages of Continuous Distillation

 

For enhanced purity in volatile component separation (e.g., water and isopropyl alcohol), employ fractional distillation with a reflux column. This approach has the potential to achieve 99.9% solvent recovery and 99.9% solvent purity, which is popular in electronic/PCB production, medical device manufacturing, and aerospace applications.

Utilized solvent recovery system and recycling benefits:

• Chemical waste from solvents is reduced.
• Reduce your purchasing of new solvents.
• Reduce the influence on hazardous waste producers’ permit status.
• When utilizing safer but more expensive designed solvents, you can get a quicker return on your capital equipment.
• Savings on storage

Alaqua supplies different types of processing equipment such as evaporators, crystallizers, solvent recovery systems, distillation equipment, and spray dryers to fulfill various industrial demands. Alaqua offers equipment installation, commissioning, fabrication, personnel training, retro-fitting, and field troubleshooting services along with processing equipment. Contact us today to know more!