Separation of a water/MIBK mixture by batch heteroazeotropic distillation: A self-entrained case

• Published in: Chemical engineering and processing 2022-01, Vol.171, p.108761, Article 108761
• Main Authors: Parma-García, Miguel Ignacio, Díaz-López, José Antonio, Nieto-Márquez, Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aspen plus; Heteroazeotropic batch distillation; MIBK; Self-entrained system; Solvent recovery
• ISSN: 0255-2701; 1873-3204
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cep.2021.108761

•MIBK and water separation by advanced distillation technology.•MIBK and water form a heteroazeotrope, so no entrainer is required for separation.•Distillation-decanter configuration favoured all operation performance indicators.•This configuration minimize the amount of MIBK lost in the distillate. In this work, we present a study on the dehydration of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) by batch distillation, using the dynamic module for batch distillation (BatchSep) provided by the commercial chemical process simulator Aspen Plus V11®. A 98 wt.% MIBK/water mixture was initially fed to the column. The scope of the separation was set at 99.8 wt.%, as a standard purity for solvent reuse. Taking advantage of the heteroazeotropic behaviour of the mixture water/MIBK (self-entrained), an alternative configuration with a decanter, which allowed selective reflux of the organic phase, was studied and compared with the conventional batch distillation configuration at 1 atm. This alternative configuration presented clear operating advantages compared to the conventional case, i.e. reduction of both operational time and energy demand by 50% and increase in specific production by 100%. Finally, the distillation-decanter configuration was studied at reduced pressures (50–400 mbar), registering further operating improvements. [Display omitted]