Environment-Oriented Assessment of Hybrid Methods for Separation of N-Propanol–Water Mixtures: Combination of Distillation and Hydrophilic Pervaporation Processes

Do Thi, Huyen Trang and Tóth, András József (2025) Environment-Oriented Assessment of Hybrid Methods for Separation of N-Propanol–Water Mixtures: Combination of Distillation and Hydrophilic Pervaporation Processes. MEMBRANES (BASEL), 15 (2). No.-48. ISSN 2077-0375

Preview

Text membranes-15-00048.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

This study presents a novel approach to the dehydration of n-propanol using three hybrid methods—D + HPV, D + HPV + D, and D + HPV + D with heat integration—each combining distillation (D) and hydrophilic pervaporation (HPV) without the use of additional solvent agents, as in the most common separation method, extractive distillation. The optimization was performed using a ChemCAD process simulator, targeting 99.9 wt% purity for n-propanol and water. This is the first research to provide a comprehensive cost estimation and carbon footprint analysis for such configurations. Results show the D + HPV + D+HImethodprovides the best balance of energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and economic feasibility. It reduced heat duties by 18.5% compared to D + HPV+D,achieved similar CO2 emissions to D + HPV with better energy efficiency, and lowered the total annual cost by 37.9% compared to D + HPV. The findings establish D + HPV + D+HIasapromising technology for sustainable and cost-effective n-propanol dehydration.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item