Regimes of Extractive Distillation in Ethanol Production
Advancing the chemical engineering fundamentals
Distillation, Absorption & Extraction (T2-10P)
Keywords: extractive distillation, purification
The production of alimentary ethyl alcohol is based on the distillation of alcohol-water solution. In this process, in addition to the concentration of alcohol, its purification from various impurities occurs which were formed during fermentation.
Now, vacuum distillation units are becoming more commonly used. In order to make its more efficient used a principle of extractive distillation. This enables to lower the concentration of ethanol and to shift the equilibrium for some impurities to the transition from liquid to the vapor phase. Extractive distillation considerably enhances the capabilities for the creating or destruction of zones of concentration of various impurities along the column and their separation from ethanol. The influence of operating conditions to the effectiveness of extractive distillation process in ethanol production was investigated.
The concentration of different impurities at the selection zones of distillation columns depends on the temperature and the volumetric flow rate of extractive solvent (water). It gives us an opportunity to affect of ethanol purification from the various volatility impurities. The effect of the parameters on the purification degree of ethanol was experimental studied on a commercial distillation column by measuring amounts of impurities in the products of distillation using highly effective gas chromatograph.
Proposed method allows us to choose the extractive distillation regime that guarantees the necessary quality of ethanol. The values of operating conditions of extractive distillation for the best total purification from the attendant impurities are estimated.
See the full pdf manuscript of the abstract.
Presented Tuesday 18, 13:30 to 15:00, in session Distillation, Absorption & Extraction (T2-10P).
