Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/1942/47358
Title: | Unlocking the Benefits of Hybrid and Standalone Pervaporation for Sustainable Isopropanol Dehydration with HybSi® AR Membranes | Authors: | Khan, Mohammed Nazeer Boorsma, Elmar Vandezande, Pieter Lammerink, Ilse de Lange, Rob Buekenhoudt, Anita VAN DAEL, Miet |
Issue Date: | 2025 | Publisher: | MDPI | Source: | Membranes, 15 (8) (Art N° 224) | Abstract: | This study presents the first combined techno-economic and environmental analysis of IPA dehydration using HybSi (R) membranes across three configurations, offering a low-emission alternative to conventional azeotropic distillation. The processes are simulated in Aspen Plus, and include two hybrid separation processes (i.e., distillation-pervaporation and distillation-pervaporation-distillation) and one standalone pervaporation process. The pervaporation module uses data from experiments that were performed using HybSi (R) AR membranes at 130 degrees C and two vacuum pressures (20 and 50 mbar). The separation processes were systematically compared using a comprehensive set of performance indicators covering technical, economic, and environmental aspects. A new cost-efficiency metric, COPCO, is introduced, alongside updated modeling under 2024 market conditions. The isopropanol recovery and water selectivity were >99.5% and >98.7%, respectively, in all pervaporation-based processes. It was found that the hybrid distillation-pervaporation process resulted in a 42% reduction in the levelized cost of the benchmark azeotropic distillation process, while standalone pervaporation resulted in a 38% reduction. The CO2 footprint was also reduced significantly in all cases, up to 86% in the case of standalone pervaporation compared to azeotropic distillation. The COPCO analysis revealed that the distillation-pervaporation configuration offers the highest cost-efficiency among the evaluated systems. Sensitivity analysis revealed that feed flow rate, average water flux, membrane module price, membrane lifetime, and steam price significantly impact the levelized cost. Lower vacuum pressure and feed water near the azeotropic composition enhance economic performance. | Notes: | Khan, MN; Vandezande, P (corresponding author), Flemish Inst Technol Res VITO, Unit Mat & Chem MatCh, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium. mohammednazeer.khan@vito.be; pieter.vandezande@vito.be; ilse.lammerrink@pervatech.nl; ron.delange@aswyn.nl; anita.buekenhoudt@vito.be; miet.vandael@vito.be |
Keywords: | pervaporation;techno-economic assessment;solvent recovery;solvent dehydration;CO2 reduction;azeotropic distillation | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/47358 | e-ISSN: | 2077-0375 | DOI: | 10.3390/membranes15080224 | ISI #: | 001559795900001 | Rights: | 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/). | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unlocking the Benefits of Hybrid.pdf | Published version | 3.09 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.