Experimental Measurement and Thermodynamic Modeling of Multiphase Equilibrium of Water + Ethanol + Glycerol systems (101.3 kPa)

• Grant number: 22/09978-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• End date: September 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Industrial Operations and Equipment for Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Felipe Arce Castillo
• Grantee: Lara Cecília das Neves
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the biodiesel production, after the transesterification reactions have taken place, the next step is the separation of products and by-products. Knowledge of phase equilibrium conditions is essential to determine the conditions of separation processes. In this project, it proposes to study the multiphase behavior: liquid-liquid equilibrium (LLE) and vapor-liquid-liquid equilibrium (VLLE) equilibrium: experimental, quality test (LLE) / thermodynamic consistency (VLLE) and thermodynamic modeling of the water + ethanol + glycerol system (101.3 kPa). Experimental process will be carried out in equipment implemented with the jacketed glass cell with adaptation for constant temperature control (LLE) and the modified Othmer ebulliometer with recirculation (VLLE). Once equilibrium is reached, the analyzes (LLE or VLLE compositions) will be done by measuring the refractive indexes and densities. Previously, calibration curves will be built. Quality testing (LLE) and thermodynamic consistency (VLLE) of the experimental data will be performed to determine if the data are thermodynamically consistent. For the thermodynamic modeling, the Gamma-Gamma approach (g g) (LLE) and the T-Bubble method and the Gamma-Gamma-Phi (g-g-f) (VLLE) approach will be used. Experimental data will be compared with the ones obtained in the modeling, in terms of deviations in the aqueous phase compositions (LLE) and the bubble temperature and vapor phase compositions (VLLE), and phase diagrams will be drawn showing the binodal curve and tie-lines (LLE) and bubble and dew curves (VLLE) at 101.3 kPa.