Study on Microwave Desorption Azeotropic Distillation of Ethanol-Loaded Activated Carbon under Vacuum Condition

The microwave desorption azeotropic distillation was used to recover ethanol in waste water from ethanol industry under vacuum condition. The flow charts for microwave desorption azeotropic distillation of ethanol-loaded activated carbon under vacuum condition were designed. Activated carbon is used in adsorption of low concentration ethanol in water, and the saturated carbon is regenerated by microwave irradiation under vacuum condition. The results showed that the ethanol-loaded activated carbon can be desorbed nearly completely after 100s; the microwave power has an important effect on the outlet concentration curve of ethanol; the mass defect of the regenerated carbon is lower than 5%. After several processes of activated carbon adsorption and microwave desorption azeotropic distillation under vacuum condition, the concentration of ethanol can come up to 98%.