Continuous production of an adsorption product of a nitrooxy-functional organic compound

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the continuous production of an adsorption product of a nitrooxy-functional organic compound adsorbed on the surface of a particulate adsorbent material, the process comprising the steps of: continuously feeding particulate adsorbent material into an elongated cavity; continuously conveying the material within the cavity in a downstream direction; continuously spraying a liquid adsorbate onto the particulate adsorbent material, wherein the liquid adsorbate comprises the nitrooxy-functional organic compound; continuously agitating the mixture thus obtained to form the adsorption product; and continuously removing the adsorption product from the cavity. The invention further relates to an adsorption product obtained by such process and the use of such adsorption product in ruminant nutrition.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A process for the continuous production of an adsorption product of a nitrooxy-functional organic compound adsorbed on a surface of a particulate adsorbent material, the process comprising:
 feeding particulate adsorbent material into a mixing zone at feed rate of 100 kg/hour or more;   conveying the material within the mixing zone in a downstream direction;   spraying a liquid adsorbate comprising the nitrooxy-functional organic compound onto the particulate adsorbent material as the adsorbent material is conveyed in the downstream direction to form a mixture;   agitating the mixture to form the adsorption product; and   removing the adsorption product from the mixing zone.   
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the feed rate of the particulate adsorbent material into the mixing zone is 200 kg/hour or more. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein a ratio of an introduction rate of liquid adsorbate into the elongated cavity to an introduction rate of particulate adsorbent material into the elongated cavity is between 80 and 120 ml of liquid adsorbate per 100 g particulate adsorbent material. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein an average residence time of the particulate material in the elongated cavity is 10 minutes or less. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein a volume of the elongated cavity is 0.1 m 3  or more. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the L/D (length/diameter) ratio of the elongated cavity is between 3 and 7. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the elongated cavity is inclined in a longitudinal moving direction of the particulate adsorbent material at an incline angle of between 15 and 45°. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the elongated cavity is partly filled with the particulate adsorbent material, such that between 35 and 75% of the volume or the elongated cavity are filled with particulate adsorbent material. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 23 , wherein the elongated cavity is fully filled with the particulate adsorbent material at some longitudinal positions and partly filled with the particulate adsorbent material at other longitudinal positions, wherein the liquid adsorbate is sprayed onto the particulate adsorbent material at longitudinal positions of the elongated cavity where it is fully filled with particulate adsorbent material, and wherein continuously agitating the mixture thus obtained is carried out at least in part in at longitudinal positions of the elongated cavity where it is partially filled with particulate adsorbent. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the particulate adsorbent material is granular silica. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the particulate adsorbent material has an average grain size between 200-400 μm. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the particulate adsorbent material is a porous material having a specific surface area of at least 200 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the particulate adsorbent material is a porous material having an oil adsorption capacity of between 100 and 300 ml/100 g. 
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the nitrooxy-functional organic compound comprises a compound of formula (I) below 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10; R 1  is H, C 1-6 -alkyl, phenyl, —OH, —NH 2 , —CN, —COOH, —COO-M + , —O(C═O)R 2 , —NH(C═O)R 3 , —SO 2 (NH)R 4  or —ONO 2 ; R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently from each other either C 1-6 -alkyl, phenyl or pyridyl, with the proviso that when n is >3 the hydrocarbon chain may be interrupted by —O— or —NH—; and M +  is selected from sodium (Na + ), potassium (K + ), lithium (Li + ), magnesium (Mg 2+ ), calcium (Ca 2+ ), barium (Ba 2+ ), strontium (Sr 2+ ), and ammonium (NH 4   + ). 
       
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the nitrooxy-functional organic compound comprises one selected from 3-nitrooxypropanol, 9-nitrooxynonanol, 5-nitrooxy pentanoic acid, 6-nitrooxy hexanoic acid, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine dinitrate, 1,3-bis-nitrooxypropane, 1,4-bis-nitrooxybutane, 1,5-bis-nitrooxypentane and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the nitrooxy-functional organic compound comprises 3-nitrooxypropanol. 
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid adsorbate comprises the nitrooxy-functional organic compound at a concentration of 10-40 wt. %. 
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid adsorbate when sprayed has a temperature of between 10 and 40° C. 
     
     
         34 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid adsorbate is sprayed through one or more nozzles at a spray pressure of between 3 and 9 bar. 
     
     
         35 . A process for the production of an adsorption product comprising a nitrooxy-functional organic compound adsorbed on a surface of a particulate adsorbent material, the process comprising:
 feeding particulate adsorbent material into a mixing zone;   spraying a liquid adsorbate comprising the nitrooxy-functional organic compound onto the particulate adsorbent material in the mixing zone to form a mixture;   agitating the mixture to form the adsorption product; and   removing the adsorption product from the mixing zone, wherein:   (a) the liquid adsorbate when sprayed has a temperature of between 10 and 40° C.;   (b) the liquid adsorbate is sprayed at a spray pressure of between 3 and 9 bar;   (c) the liquid adsorbate and particulate adsorbent material are mixed at a ratio of from 80 ml and 120 ml of liquid adsorbate per 100 g particulate adsorbent material; and/or   (d) the liquid adsorbate comprises the nitrooxy-functional organic compound at a concentration of 10-40 wt. %.   
     
     
         36 . A process for the production of an adsorption product, the process comprising:
 feeding granular silica into a mixing zone;   spraying a liquid adsorbate comprising 3-nitrooxypropanol and a polyol solvent onto the granular silica in the mixing zone to form a mixture;   agitating the mixture to form the adsorption product comprising 3-nitrooxypropanol adsorbed on a surface of the granular silica; and   removing the adsorption product from the mixing zone.   
     
     
         37 . The process of  claim 36 , wherein the polyol solvent comprises propylene glycol. 
     
     
         38 . The process of  claim 37 , wherein:
 (a) the liquid adsorbate when sprayed has a temperature of between 10 and 40° C.;   (b) the liquid adsorbate is sprayed at a spray pressure of between 3 and 9 bar;   (c) the liquid adsorbate and particulate adsorbent material are mixed at a ratio of from 80 ml and 120 ml of liquid adsorbate per 100 g particulate adsorbent material; and/or   (d) the liquid adsorbate comprises the nitrooxy-functional organic compound at a concentration of 10-40 wt. %.