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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Ethanol Recovery from Stripping Gas Mixtures by Gas Absorption: Experimental and Modeling

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Author(s):
Rodrigues, Kaio C. S. [1] ; Veloso, Ivan I. K. [1] ; Cruz, Antonio J. G. [1] ; Bernardo, Andre [1] ; Badino, Alberto C. [1]
Total Authors: 5
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Grad Program Chem Engn, POB 676, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 1
Document type: Journal article
Source: ENERGY & FUELS; v. 33, n. 1, p. 369-378, JAN 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 0
Abstract

Ethanol removal by CO2 stripping during alcoholic fermentation is one way of overcoming the problem of inhibition by the product. However, the lack of efficient methods to recover ethanol from the gas phase still makes the use of stripping unviable. In this work, gas absorption was evaluated as a method for the recovery of ethanol from the gas mixture generated by CO2 stripping. First, the solvents water, monoethylene glycol (MEG), and diethylene glycol were evaluated in terms of their performance in ethanol absorption. MEG was selected as the most appropriate absorbent because it provided a satisfactory ethanol recovery percentage, in addition to the fact that it is already used in distilleries to obtain anhydrous ethanol. Subsequent assays using MEG were conducted to investigate the influence of the initial MEG volume in the absorber, the recirculation volumetric flow rate of solvent, and the use of two absorbers connected in series. A modeling procedure was developed based on mass balance equations for the species involved (ethanol, water, CO2, and MEG), stripping and absorption kinetics, and vapor-liquid equilibrium concepts and was able to accurately describe the process behavior. The use of two absorbers, each with 0.80 L of MEG, enabled recovery of up to 93.1% of the ethanol from the stripping gas mixture. The results showed that gas absorption with MEG is a highly promising strategy for ethanol recovery, with potential for applications in industrial ethanol fermentation processes. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 14/26854-9 - Study of ethanol production and recovery process: integration of processes extractive fermentation with carbon dioxide and recovery in absorption column
Grantee:Kaio César da Silva Rodrigues
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
FAPESP's process: 18/11405-5 - Extractive Ethanol Fermentation in Pneumatic Bioreactors with Removal by CO2 Stripping Integrated to Recovery Units
Grantee:Alberto Colli Badino Junior
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants