Propane/propylene separation: From molecular scale to process

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2008

Authors

Alírio Rodrigues (Author) FEUP; Granato, M (Author) Other; Sa Gomes, P (Author) Other; Lamia, N (Author) Other

Conference proceedings International

Title: AIChE Annual Meeting, Conference Proceedings

2008 AIChE Annual Meeting, AIChE 100

Philadelphia, PA, 16 November 2008 through 21 November 2008

Indexing

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-007-XJC

Abstract (EN): Propane/propylene separation is an energy intensive separation currently done by distillation with consumption of 1.5 MWh/ton propylene in cryogenic distilllation units which can be lowered to 0.3 MWh/ton in well heat integrated units. Alternative technologies studied in our laboratory include Vacuum Swing Adsorption (VSA) and Simulated Moving Bed in gas phase. In VSA zeolite 4A or 13X have been used in processes controlled by crystal diffusion and macropore diffusion, respectively. In the case of SMB process the adsorbent chosen was zeolite 13 X. The desorbent was either isobutane or butene-1. The experimental methodology was the following: measurement of single component adsorption equilibrium isotherms; measurement of binary equilibria; fixed bed dynamics. This was coupled with modeling and simulation of SMB allowing the design and determination of operating conditions. Molecular simulation studies of propane, propylene and isobutane (or butene-1) were carried out and they are a tool to look for better desorbents. A recently developed force field for adsorption of linear alkanes in the sodium form of FAU is applied to reproduce experimental data for propylene adsorption in 13X zeolites by fitting LJ parameters between the sp2-hybridized bond of propylene and the other atoms for this system. Similar methodology was extend for the adsorption of isobutane.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 1