ETHANOL-WATER FRACTIONATION BY A NON-BOILING HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER PROCESS

FEASIBILITY AND FUNDAMENTAL OPERATION OF AN INNOVATIVE NONBOILING MINIMUM ENERGY HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER DEVICE WILLBE INVESTIGATED. AN ETHANOL/WATER BINARY SYSTEM WAS SELECTED BECAUSE OF ITS COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE. THE HEAT ANDMASS TRANSFER DEVICE USES AN INERT CARRIER GAS OPERATING AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE TO EVAPORATE ETHANOL AND WATER AND THEN TO CONDENSE WATER AND ETHANOL IN A MANNER SO AS TO REUSE THE HEAT OF VAPORIZATION AND CAUSE COMPOSITIONAL CHANGES POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN HIGH PRODUCT PURITIES. THIS DEVICE IS CONSTRUCTED OF INEXPENSIVE MATERIALS.