Patent ID: 7767178
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: B01D,B01J,C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for dehydrating a mixture of ethanol and water comprising, a) contacting a first mixture of ethanol and water with a molecular sieve bed at a first temperature in the range of 80-95° C. and at a first pressure in the range of 105-150 kPa and sufficient to urge the first mixture through the molecular sieve bed; b) collecting a first effluent containing ethanol having less water than the first mixture and retaining the used molecular sieve bed; and c) contacting the used molecular sieve bed with a carrier gas at a second temperature greater than the first temperature and in the range of 81-105° C., at a second pressure that differs from the first pressure by less than 80 kPa, to form a second effluent comprising a vapor mixture of the carrier gas, water and residual ethanol eluted from the molecular sieve bed to obtain a regenerated molecular sieve bed.