Use of activated carbon for separation of ethanol from water

摘要

An adsorptive separation process for separating ethanol from a feed mixture comprising ethanol and water, which process comprises contacting the feed mixture with an adsorbent comprising activated carbon, selectively adsorbing substantially all of the ethanol to be separated to the substantial exclusion of the water and thereafter recovering high purity ethanol. A desorption step is used to desorb the adsorbed ethanol with the desorbent selected being capable of direct blending into motor fuel.