Work

Engineering-Oriented Design of the Separation Plant of the Catalytic Conversion Process of Bioethanol into Biobutanol

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Biobutanol offers promise as a biofuel and platform chemical. Renewable butanol can be synthesized from bioethanol via the Guerbet reaction, in which higher alcohols are produced from short-chain alcohols. This research addresses the design and implementation of the separation system for the complex azeotropic mixture arising from ethanol-based biobutanol production. Using established conceptual design methods, an engineering-oriented approach was followed to deal with the numerous compounds present in the mixture and its complex phase behavior. To demonstrate the resulting design, a pilot plant composed of five distillation columns and two molecular sieves was constructed and operated. This plant constitutes the first experimental investigation of a separation system for this process. The recovery of unconverted ethanol was effectively demonstrated, and the production of high-purity butanol (∼99 wt %) was also achieved. From the experience of the construction and operation of the pilot plant, recommendations are given for industrial implementation of the separation system.

Source: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research

DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.4c02871

Authors: Gracia María Cabello González, Laura Romero-Piñeiro, Ángel Luis Villanueva Perales, Fernando Vidal-Barrero

Institution: Universidad de Sevilla

Language: English

Topic: Process Optimization and Integration

Subfield: Control and Systems Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500