Ethanol separation using Sepabeads207 adsorbent

Abstract

This work was aimed at evaluating the ethanol separation using Sepabeads207 adsorbent. A 10 wt% of ethanol solution was used as a model fermentation broth. The separation of ethanol from the solution was performed in a tube containing Sepabeads207 at different operating conditions: temperatures, 20 to 40°C; solution pH, 4 to 7; and contact times, 5 to 25 minutes. Recovery of ethanol via stripping was studied between 15 and 35 minutes, and at different air temperatures of 80 to 95°C. The concentration of liquid ethanol was measured using gas chromatography and refractometer. A higher ethanol concentration by Sepabeads207 adsorption was obtained at 20°C and solution pH 4 for 5 minutes, while the recovery was performed better at 80°C for 15 minutes. By applying these conditions, 10 wt% of ethanol in the solution was concentrated to 46 wt%. The ethanol adsorption data are: i). capacity of 0.22 g ethanol/g adsorbent, ii). selectivity of 7.75 (g ethanol/g water (adsorbed)) / (g ethanol/g water (original solution)), and iii). efficiency of 100%. Sepabeads207 is a promising adsorbent for ethanol separation from the dilute ethanol solution.