Isothermal vapor-liquid equilibrium of acetone-water mixture in the presence of molecular sieves

The VLE of acetone-water mixtures was studied at 60 degreesC in the absence and in the presence 3 Angstrom and 4 =Angstrom molecular sieves using the Headspace gas chromatographic (HSGC) technique. Good agreement was noticed when the experimental results in the absence of molecular sieves were compa red to the van Lar and UNIFAC models' predictions. These results proved the practical feasibility of using the HSGC in measuring the VLE of binary mix tures. The experimental results obtained in the presence of molecular sieve s showed that the VLE of acetone-water mixtures was altered significantly i n the presence of molecular sieves. A complete separation of acetone was ac hieved for a feed composition of about 25 mol % acetone. These results sugg est the potential use of molecular sieves to alter the VLE of binary mixtur es, especially those with close boiling points or systems that have azeotro pic points.