Resumen

In recent years, research has been focused on the design and application of greener and more efficient solvents to use as entrainers in extractive distillation. Ionic liquids (ILs) have been recognized as an interesting option due to their nonvolatility, high selectivity, heat capacity, and easy operation and regeneration. 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([emim][OAc]), 1-methylimidazolium chloride ([mim][Cl]), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([bmim][Cl]) are promising ionic liquids for industrial applications in the separation of azeotropic mixtures, such as water-ethanol. This paper proposes a simplified methodology for the design of extractive distillation columns for the separation of ethanol and water assisted by the ionic liquids. The vapor-liquid equilibrium was predicted with the thermodynamic model NRTL and then fitted to the empirical relative volatility model for non-ideal solutions. The McCabe-Thiele method was employed for the estimation of the minimum reflux ratio and with the relative volatility model the stage-by-stage calculations were performed. The addition of the solvent eliminates the azeotropic behavior and increases relative volatility of the system. Thus, proving that [emim][OAc], [mim][Cl] and [bmim][Cl] are suitable entrainers in the dehydration of ethanol. The results show that an increment in IL concentration decreases the number of stages required for the separation and that the number of stages estimated with the simplified method is similar to the results in the literature. Therefore, it was demonstrated that the relative volatility model can be used to perform the stage-by-stage calculations.

Keywords: extractive distillation, ionic liquids, ethanol-water, separation process, relative volatility model

Full document (archivo pdf, 726 kb)

Table of content

Portada

Índices

Capítulo 1. Introduction

Capítulo 2. Literature Review

Capítulo 3. Methodology

Capítulo 4. Results and Discussion

Capítulo 5. Conclusion

Referencias

Full document (archivo pdf, 726 kb)

Arregui González, A. 2021. Design of distillation systems assisted with ionic liquids. Artículo Científico Licenciatura. Ingeniería Química. Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Alimentos y Ambiental, Escuela de Ingeniería, Universidad de las Américas Puebla. Mayo. Derechos Reservados © 2021.