A study in the separation of isopropanol through a packed distillation column

• Main Authors: Francisco, Julie Kristine R., Maliksi, Patrick John P., Yu, Jemson C.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1996
• Subjects: Separation (Technology); Packed towers; Distillation; Alcohol; x2 Columns, Packed; Chemical Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/8788
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study aims to purify isopropyl alcohol and to determine the number of theoretical stages and the reflux ratio using the existing packed distillation column. Several sets of experiments were done at a constant feed volume of 10 liters and at concentrations of 10, 20 and 30 by volume of isopropanol for the three calibrated valve openings. A calibration curve of refractive index vs. volume percent of isopropanol was also developed.Temperature profiles along the column were developed for each set of calibrated reflux valve opening. From these profiles, their corresponding reflux ratio and number of stages required for effective separation were determined by using McCabe-Thiele's stepping off process.