Study of a New Strategy for the Anhydrous Ethanol Production in Units in Rio de Janeiro: Addition of Propylene glycol as Cosolvent

The production of anhydrous ethanol, due to the presence azeotrope, is difficult using conventional distillation, at pressure atmospheric, as a separation process. One methods used extractive consisting in addition third substance capable change vapor-liquid equilibrium system and obtaining dehydration ethanol. Therefore, ethanol process propylene glycol solvent was evaluated ProSimPlus software. simulation done varying solvent/feed ratios (S/F) 0.5, 0.7 0.9 by weight. results showed that azeotrope broken, same fraction three studied. Thus, it chosen lower ratio S/F (0.5) measure equilibria ternary system, molar concentration from 0.2 0.9. experimental data were measured triplicate similar Othmer's ebuliometer analyses samples digital densimeter. validating obtained simulation, confirming promising for can be applied units present Rio de Janeiro.