A study on selection of separation agent for Chloroform - Methanol, Ethanol - Water and Methylacetate - Methanol systems

Abstract

Distillation is the most common separation operation in chemical engineering industries. Formation of azeotropes by close boiling point compounds present in mixtures complicates the separation process. Chloroform - Methanol, Ethanol - Water and Methylacetate - Methanol systems form azeotropes and are subject to experimental investigation by employing Othmer VLE still to identify potential separating agents to break the azeotropizm. The experimental observations are reported in the study.  The results show that water, toluene and ethylene glycol  can be used as promising agents for the systems Chloroform - Methanol, Ethanol - Water and Methylacetate - Methanol respectively. Also it is inferred that water and ethylene glycol act as solvent whereas toluene plays role as a entrainer for the respective mixture concerned.