MOLECULAR  SIEVE  DEHYDRATION SYSTEM

PRINCIPLES

This process is based in the adsorption of water by a material called zeolite.

When passing hydrated alcohol through a bed filled with this material, water molecules can invade the inner structure of the molecular-sieve beads and be adsorbed thereon, while the ethanol molecules are too large, and pass out of the vessel leaving the water behind.

ADVANTAGES OF THE MOLECULAR SIEVE TECHNOLOGY

• There is no use of chemical products as benzene or cyclohexane for the dehydration process

• There is no product losses

• Lower consumption of steam (66 % less) and water

• Automatic process with a microcomputer program

• Allows to increase capacity in existing distillation apparatus

• Better quality for the anhydrous alcohol

BETTER QUALITY ALCOHOL AT A LOWER COST
 
The technology used from 40's until last years for dehydration of ethanol included azeotropic distillation using dangerous chemical products as benzene and cyclohexane.

 
With the molecular sieve process there is no use of chemical products which takes into a pure final product preserving the life and environment.

 
The mol sieve produced ethanol is specially indicated for more rigid specifications of international markets.

There is a cost reduction in producing anhydrous ethanol due to the lower steam consumption (33 % of the conventional process) and there is no constant use of a chemical product (benzene or cyclohexane). The reduction of steam consumption sometimes makes available a higher sugar or alcohol production due to the save of steam generated by the boilers.

The automation of the process is a favorable point of the installation with a high technology in the instrumentation equipment and computer program what gives security and tranquility with a total control of the process.

Plant Installed in COAMO, Campo Mourão - PR - Brasil

Capacity: 100,000 liters/day

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