Proceso para la deshidratación de alcohol a partir de bioetanol mediante tratamientos sucesivos de rectificación, destilación extractiva con glicoles y adsorción mediante tamices moleculares

Abstract

The objective of this research project is to obtain anhydrous alcohol, which can be used for mixing with gasoline in a percentage of up to 10%.

To obtain this objective there are consecutive stages: rectification, extractive distillation and the use of molecular sieves. In the first stage, the starting volume is 19 liters to 62°GL and it is obtained a total of 3.4 L to 92°GL; this process is performed in a rectification column consisting of 10 plates. Next, there is the treatment by extractive distillation process in which different solvents and mixes are used, among them: ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerin. It is found that the solvent that yields the best results is glycerin, the most suitable ratio is 3:1. generating a concentration alcohol of 98ºGL. Finally, the last stage is when molecular sieve tests are carried out using a pore diameter of 0.3nm. This stage is worked on a fixed bed column, the amount of sieve to be used varies according to the volume of alcohol to be treated. by adsorption with molecular sieves was found that the optimal working time of the column should not exceed 60 minutes, in order to obtain a final concentration of 99.66ºGL. Also, by means of a hydrodynamic study of the column is found the adequate flow to carry out the tests, this was 2 ml per minute, evaluating the alcohol concentration by gas chromatography. In mathematical modeling the experimental data are adjusted to the dose response model with a value of R2 0,8187.