Use of esterified silica 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 esterified silica 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 may be used to desorb the adsorbed ethanol.