Combined Vapor Permeation and Continuous Solid-State Distillation for Energy-Efficient Bioethanol Production

Extracting ethanol by steam directly from fermented solid-state bagasse is an emerging technology of energy-efficient bioethanol production. With continuous distillation (CSSD) approach, the vapor with more than 25 wt% flows out column. Conventionally, was concentrated to azeotrope rectification column, which contributes most energy consumption in As alternative, a process integrating CSSD and permeation (VP) membrane separation tested. In light existing industrial application NaA zeolite hydrophilic for dehydration, prospect replacing operation hydrophobic enriching mainly analyzed this paper. The performance commercial PDMS/PVDF wide range ethanol–water-vapor binary mixture evaluated experiment. correlation factor permeate flux at different transmembrane driving force measured. mass flow sheet proposed VP case were estimated respectively simulation software based on experimental data. Techno-economic analysis both cases performed. results demonstrated that additional cost higher but lower utilities required VP. discount payback period supplementary determined as 1.81 years compared service lifetime 3 years, indicating hybrid CSSD-VP effective efficient.