Alcohol   |  Vinegar  |  Yeast  |  CitricAcid  |  GluconicAcid  |  Glucose  |  HFS  |  SterileTechnology  |  CellCulture

UNIT OPERATIONS: Separation / Purification

Vogelbusch MOLECULAR SIEVE PROCESS

 The Vogelbusch molecular sieve process is based on the adsorption characteristics of zeolite and the principle, that zeolite's affinity for water changes at different pressures. Water is effectively adsorbed in the pores of the zeolite during loading and desorbed during regeneration of the molecular sieve bed. Dehydration is done by turns: one bed is in dehydration service while the other is regenerated . Regeneration techniques include thermal reactivation, pressure swing (PSA) and vacuum swing (VSA).

The key benefits of the Vogelbusch process are:

  • Low capital and operating cost
  • Full automation - no operator attention required
  • Instant start and shutdown
  • Low product water content
  • Long sieve life

 
Ethanol dehydration

In 1981, Vogelbusch adsorption personnel installed the first commercial pressure swing ethanol dryer. This technique became the preferred method of dehydrating ethanol for fuel grade and industrial grade alcohol since. In 1990, the integrated distillation/dehydration/evaporation for alcohol plants was developed and pioneered which is now state of the art.

In the alcohol industry the Vogelbusch molecular sieve dehydration system is used to remove water and produce dehydrated alcohol above the azeotropic concentration without the need for an entrainer. Alcoholic vapours can be used as feed to the dehydration unit, resulting in energy savings, as the condensation heat can be employed in the stillage evaporator.

The advantages of molecular sieve units over other alcohol dehydration processes are:
- Effective separation resulting in increased dryer product
- Ease of operation, and
- Reduced energy, operating and capital costs
The molecular sieve process eliminates the handling problems and emission control requirements associated with conventional entrainer dehydration.
 

  BACK TO INTRODUCTION                BACK TO UNIT OPERATIONS

Last modified: 27.11.06 by HaK

VOGELBUSCH - The Bioprocess Company
Send your mail to office@vienna.vogelbusch.com with questions or comments to this web site.