Abstract Extractive distillation for isopropanol-cyclohexane azeotropic mixture was simulated and optimized. Simulation of extractive distillation was executed by RadFrac module of Aspen Plus simulation software using NRTL model and furfural as solvent．Sensitivity analysis was also performed to optimize the operation parameters. The simulation results show that it's possible to separate isopropanol-cyclohexane azeotropic mixture by extractive distillation using furfural as solvent. The optimum operation parameters were as follows: in extractive distillation column, ideal stage number is 30, number of feed stage is 26, number of solvent stage is 12, mole reflux ratio is 1.8 and ratio of solvent to feed is 3∶1；in solvent recovery column, ideal stage number is 15, number of feed stage is 10, molar reflux ratio is 1. Under the optimized parameters, mass fraction of cyclohexane can reach 99.74% and mass fraction of isopropanol can reach 99.61%. The results of simulation and optimization will provide fundamental guide for the industrialization design and production.
WANG Jing-Xian, QIAO Jian-Jun, LIANG Jin-Hua, BAI Peng.Simulation and Optimization of Extractive Distillation for Isopropanol-Cyclohexane Azeotropic Mixture[J] Chemcial Industry and Engineering, 2013,V30(2): 58-63
2013, Vol. 30 
