Pilot plant mass transfer efficiency evaluation for toluene + methylcyclohexane separation by extractive distillation with [HMIM][TCB]

Conference paper (2014)

Authors

E Quijada-Maldonado External organisation
G.W. Meindersma External organisation
A.B. de Haan ChemE/Transport Phenomena - AS
Research Group
ChemE/Transport Phenomena (AS) (TU Delft)
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Published Date

2014

Language

English

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Faculty

Applied Sciences

Department

ChemE/Chemical Engineering

Research Group

ChemE/Transport Phenomena

Abstract

Separation of the close-boiling mixture: toluene ¿ methylcyclohexane
(MCH) has been carried out by extractive distillation (ED) using the
ionic liquid [HMIM][TCB]. High solvent-to-feed ratios are needed to
maintain one liquid phase and increased liquid phase viscosities are
expected compared to the reference solvent NMP. Experiments in an
extractive distillation pilot plant were carried out at a solvent-to-feed
mass ratio of 5 to evaluate the effect of solvent selectivity and
viscosity on the separation performance and mass transfer efficiency.
The results confirm that at the used operating conditions one liquid
phase was maintained and that with [HMIM][TCB] a MCH purity
>99.7% could be achieved. The liquid phase viscosities in the ED
column when using [HMIM][TCB] appeared four times higher than
with NMP. As a result the mass transfer efficiency decreased, which
was reflected in a doubling of the HETP (height equivalent to a
theoretical plate) compared to NMP