Enhanced Distillation via Membranes for Elimination of Trapped Water

Distillation is a major chemical unit operation and consumer of significant energy. Often, water or another intermediate boiling component can become trapped within the distillation column and accumulate. This causes various operating difficulties such as flooding, slugging, cycling, instability, and an off-spec product. This project will develop a chemically resistant, non-porous water-venting membrane to improve distillation operating efficiency in systems that are prone to water trapping. In Phase I, the membrane system will be built and demonstrated in pilot operations on a typical water trapping system (e.g. water-propane-butane). Basic laboratory data will be combined with membrane-distillation design studies to demonstrate that the water can be economically vented with minimal loss of organic (e.g. propane). Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The new membrane system should enhance the distillation process in many situations where distillation trapping is a major problem. Also, the membrane technology should have additional value in many other distillation applications where the removal of water is difficult (e.g. azeotropes).