Thermodynamic modeling, synthesis and optimization of extraction - dehydration processes

The synthesis problem of a new separation operation (dehyextraction) with n ear critical fluids is formulated as a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem. The key separation properties of the dehyextraction proces s are predicted by the group contribution with association equation of stat e (GCA-EOS) that supports property predictions of a rigorous process simula tor. The simulator is integrated to a MINLP optimization program. Optimal s chemes and operating conditions are determined for different aqueous soluti ons in a wide range of oxychemical compositions. A detailed study for the r ecovery and dehydration of ethanol, 2-propanol and acetone and mixtures of these solutes from aqueous solutions using supercritical gases as propane, propylene and isobutane is presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.