Abstract
Methods of steam-supported distillation of spent solvent containing 30% tributyl phosphate (TBP) in various diluents have been developed. Single-stage and two-stage processes were tested. Single-stage distillation can be realized either with the use of superheated steam under vacuum or with saturated steam at atmospheric pressure, ensuring transportation of all the solvent to distillate, independently of the used diluent. Two-stage process allows separating TBP and diluent, both of them being purified, when the diluent boiling temperature is 50–70°C below TBP boiling point. At the first stage of the process, pure diluent is obtained through distillation at atmospheric pressure with the use of saturated steam. Then TBP is distilled off from wet bottoms of the first stage by continuous-flow vacuum distillation at the circulating bottoms.
