Conceptual design of a dual reactive dividing wall column for downstream processing of lactic acid

• Novel dual reactive dividing wall column for processing bio-based lactic acid Methodology synthesis and design of a distillation Advanced overcomes challenging separations (reactive impurities) Methodologies designing intensified units are necessary to enable the industrial application process intensification concepts. This article presents ruled-based systematic methodology conceptual (dual R-DWC). A decomposition approach is used identify tasks required separation by introducing separating agent exploit reversible reaction enhance driving forces. combination shortcut rigorous simulations led novel R-DWC in which forward reverse reactions occur at once. The was demonstrated case study from dilute aqueous streams impurity that hinders conversion its recovery, while byproducts may bring new challenges desired separations. first investigate effect impurities on separation, hence adding more realistic framework design. flowsheet produced evaluated against benchmark processes showed significant improvement terms energy savings (ranging 13-27 %), material intensity (28-32 % reduction), water consumption (22-36 effectively removed.