Low-energy process to extract anhydrous ethanol from fermentation beers. Alcohol-Fuels Grant Program
The feasibility of an energy efficient technique was demonstrated utilizing patented POROPLASTIC ultramicroporous membranes for the separation of ethanol from fermentation beers. Initial research focused on the selection of the best solvent for extracting ethanol from aqueous ethanol feed streams. The most promising solvents were selected on the basis of physical properties, distribution coefficients, water rejection capabilities and cost. Several of the best strip solvents were then employed in actual membrane extractions. A single-membrane extraction module was constructed, in which a strip solvent stream and an aqueous ethanol stream encountered a Poroplastic membrane. The membrane established the interface where ethanol transfer occurred. Membrane extraction systems with good ethanol extraction characteristics were successfully designed. A 33% ethanol solution was reduced to 26% in a long-term extraction experiment with a net transport rate of 476 ..mu..g/cm/sup 2//min. Even though the rates of ethanol recovery appeared very promising the rates of water transfer were also significant. The co-extraction of water and ethanol prevented the production of an anhydrous ethanol product stream.
- Research Organization:
- Moleculon Research Corp., Cambridge, MA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG07-81ID12324
- OSTI ID:
- 6826329
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ID/12324-T1; ON: DE83005012
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ETHANOL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
EXTRACTION
FERMENTATION
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
MEMBRANES
RECOVERY
SOLVENTS
ALCOHOLS
BIOCONVERSION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
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