Xiao W., Zhou Y., Ruan X., He G., Jia X., 2015, Parameters Optimisation of Isopropanol Purification by Hybrid Distillation-Vapour Permeation Process Using Response Surface Methodology, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 45, 1171-1176.
A hybrid distillation-vapour permeation (D-VP) system was selected to get Isopropanol (IPA) with high purity. In this study, a technical and economic analysis was performed comparing the hybrid D-VP systems with polymeric (PVA/PVDF) and ceramic (NaA type zeolite) membranes. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimise the hybrid process parameters. First of all, the simulation of hybrid D-VP process for IPA purification was conducted with UniSim Design. Then Plackett-Burman design was employed to screen the significant parameters affecting total annual cost (TAC) from 11 variables. After that, steepest ascent method was undertaken to determine the optimal regions of the selected significant parameters. Finally, Box-Behnken design was adopted to further analyse the mutual interactions between these parameters and to identify their optimal values that would generate a minimum TAC. Optimal parameters were the vapour flow-rate to VP of 580 kg/h, VP operating temperature of 140 °C, permeate pressure of 1.5 kPa. And the TAC of optimal HDCM system is 49.06 €/t, about 19.80 % less than that of pri-optimised system.
