The mixed liquid of ethanol and water is used to recover ethanol directly in the reaction vessel
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I have a 5000L mixture of ethanol and water at 50% concentration. Evaporation is carried out using an enamel-lined reactor with direct jacket heating, and the steam is condensed using a condenser. Since ethanol and water form an azeotrope, can it be assumed that as long as the temperature of the ethanol-water mixture is maintained at 78.1°C, condensing the steam before all the ethanol has evaporated will result in ethanol with a 95% concentration? I would be very grateful if someone could provide an answer
I can’t remember the exact numbers, but the general idea is correct. I recall that this problem was also included in the school textbooks as an example.
Gourmet Ranger 007,,, can you drink the ethanol that you’ve evaporated? . . . . . . If you buy it, I’ll give you a few pounds extra; let me help you taste how it is. . . {:2_42:}
I think it should be possible, but the 95% here refers to the mass fraction.
Theoretically, that’s the case, but the bottom of the container will definitely contain ethanol; the azeotrope that evaporates has a higher water content than theoretically expected.