Ethanol Dehydration in a Fixed Bed Using Canola Meal

Abstract

Ethanol dehydration was investigated in a fixed-bed packed with canola meal biosorbent. Breakthrough curves were used to investigate the effects of feed flow rate, column temperature, and ethanol feed concentration on water and ethanol adsorption capacity. Experimental results demonstrated that fuel grade ethanol (over 99 wt %) was achieved through water adsorption in the fixed bed with ethanol feed concentrations of 75 wt %, and 92 wt %, respectively, at a feed flow rate of 2.9 mL/min and column temperature of 85 °C. Both water and ethanol were adsorbed on canola meal. Water adsorption isotherm was described as type II isotherm. Peudo-equilibrium ethanol adsorption isotherm was also discussed in this work. Water selectivity over ethanol was higher at the breakthrough point defined at 99 wt % ethanol than that at water adsorption equilibrium. Separation factor can be optimized through controlling feed flow rate, ethanol feed concentration, and column temperature.