Adsorption process for the dehydration of alcohol

摘要

The present invention includes a process for the dehydration of ethanol by adsorption of water at elevated pressure and for the regeneration (purging) of adsorbent at a lower pressure than the pressure used for the adsorption of water where the ratio of the duration of the regeneration (purge) step to the duration of the water adsorption step is higher than 0.1 and the temperature of adsorption is greater than 260 degree Fahrenheit.

主权项

1. A process for the dehydration of a C 1-4 alcohol comprising the steps of:
providing an adsorption bed having an adsorbent material; first contacting a feedstream comprising C 1-4 alcohol and water at a temperature above 260 degrees Fahrenheit with an adsorption bed at a first pressure for an adsorption phase time to produce a dehydrated alcohol stream; reducing the pressure of the adsorption bed to a second pressure for a blowdown phase time; second contacting the dehydrated alcohol stream with the adsorption bed for a purge phase time at a second pressure wherein the ratio of the purge phase time to an adsorption phase time is greater than 0.1; and increasing the pressure of the adsorption bed to the first pressure for a pressurization phase time wherein the adsorption bed has a top end and a bottom end and the feedstream enters the adsorption bed from the bottom of the bed and the purge stream enters the adsorption bed from the top of the bed.