Ethanol recovery from a model broth by the fermentation-extraction-distillation coupling process

Abstract The fermentation-extraction-distillation coupling (FEDC) process for ethanol recovery from a simulated model broth using 1-dodecanol as an extractant was studied by varying distillation temperature, inlet gas flow rate, extract height and feed concentration. Results showed that the temperature field was strongly impacted by the inlet gas flow rate and the distillation temperature, but the concentration field was almost not affected by these two factors. The distillate flux was greatly influenced by the distillation temperature, the inlet gas flow rate and the feed concentration. The ethanol concentration in the distillate was increased with the increasing of all the four factors. The distillate flux and the separation factor were respectively up to about 720 g/(m2·h) and 20.4, which were respectively comparable to the permeation flux and the separation factor of pervaporation.