CONCENTRATION AND PURIFICATION OF ALCOHOL AND DEVICE THEREFOR

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain a highly concentrated alcohol from a low concentrated alcohol such as fermented alcohol with a small amount of a solvent and in reduced energy, by using propane in a supercritical or pseudo-critical state. CONSTITUTION:An alcohol-containing stock solution is fed from a raw material feed opening 2 at the middle of a contact column 1 of counter current and propane is sent from a propane feed opening 3 at the top. Propane is maintained in a supercritical state or a pseudo-critical state at a concentration part 6 higher than a raw material feed opening 2 of the column 1, a mixed solution of propane and the concentrated alcohol is taken out from a light liquid outlet 5 at the top of the column 1 and is sent to a propane pressure distillation column 11. Water-containing propane is taken out from a heavy liquid outlet 4 at the bottom of the column 1. Propane taken out from the top of the pressure distillation column is compressed by a compressor 14 and reused. Compression heat in the operation is used as a heat source for the pressure distillation column 11.