Use of glycerol as entrainer in the dehydration of bioethanol using extractive batch distillation: Simulation and experimental studies

• Purification of bioethanol using extractive batch distillation.
• Use of glycerol as entrainer for high purity bioethanol production.
• Breaking of the ethanol–water azeotrope.

In this paper the dehydration of bioethanol via extractive batch distillation using glycerol as entrainer is studied. Simulation and experimental tests were carried out in order to use glycerol to produce bioethanol with a composition higher than that of the azeotropic point. The results are compared to those reported using ethylene glycol and ionic liquids as entrainers for the same separation. The simulation and experimental results indicate that it is possible to produce high purity bioethanol that can be used as a fuel oxygenate. Among the entrainers used in the experimental tests, the glycerol presented the best performance in terms of the purity in the distillate. Also, it is important to highlight that glycerol has a lower cost in comparison to ethylene glycol and ionic liquids and that is considered a by-product in the biodiesel production.