Entrainer Selection and Solvent Recycling for Better Economic Performance and Environmental Quality

Abstract

A novel batch distillation process for pollution prevention and waste minimization by recycling an in-process solvent from waste solvents with the aid of a computer-designed entrainer was presented. This novel integration greatly reduced the release of acetonitrile (ACN) to the environment and significantly improved the economic profit by recycling ACN. Theoretically, pure ACN and water with 100% recovery could be obtained when either propyl amine or acetone is used as an extracting entrainer for batch extractive distillation in a middle vessel column. But the acetone entrainer case required more severe operating conditions, i.e., high reflux and reboil ratios and long batch time, and purity specifications. The removal rate of pure water and pure ACN are 97.8 and 48.5% when propyl amine was supplied. The recovery of pure ACN when acetone was used as an entrainer was 68% and pure water was 43%. Cost saving analysis for this integrated approach with propyl amine or acetone revealed that at least several hundred thousand dollars could be saved per year. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 6th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference (Washington, D.C. 6/24-27/2003).

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0093-3066

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2025 American Chemical Society, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Dec 2003

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