JPS594991B

• Main Author: MIZUTANI EIICHI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.02.1984
• Subjects: BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; ENZYMOLOGY; FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIREDCHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERSFROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; SEPARATION; SPIRITS; TRANSPORTING; VINEGAR; WINE

PURPOSE:To improve the thermal efficiency in the preparation of anhydrous ethanol, by distilling and concentrating unrefined fermentation product in vacuum, adding an entrainer to the product, and distilling the mixture under pressure, wherein the vapor obtained from the top of the distillation column is used as a heat source. CONSTITUTION:The unrefined fermentation product is distilled and concentrated in the concentration column 12 under reduced pressure to obtain a composition near the azeotropic composition in an ethanol/water system. Toluene is added to the concentrate as an entrainer, and the mixture is distilled in the dehydration column 22 under pressure to separate anhydrous ethanol. The vapor obtained from the top of the dehydration column 22 is subjected to the heat exchange with the liquid contained in the concentration column 12 using the heat exchanger 33, and separated with a decanter 54 into the entrainer and water. The water-phase is sent to the concentration column 12 and the entrainer is introduced into the dehydration column 22. The objective anhydrous ethanol can be obtained from the bottom of the dehydration column 22.