Separation Techniques for Azeotropic Mixture

Distillation cannot separate an azeotropic mixture into its constituents as constituents in the vapour phase have a similar proportion to that of the normal liquid phase azeotrope. Constituents of an azeotropic mixture boil at the same temperature, making it difficult to separate the mixture into its constituents.

Special distillation techniques like azeotropic distillation can separate the azeotropic mixtures which is discussed in the later part of article.

Azeotropic Distillation

Azeotropic distillation is a separation process used to break or overcome the azeotropic behavior of mixtures during distillation. Azeotropic distillation involves the addition of an entrainer or an extractive agent to alter the vapor-liquid equilibrium and facilitate the separation of components. Process of Azeotropic Distillation is discussed below:

• The primary goal of azeotropic distillation is to separate the components of an azeotropic mixture, where traditional distillation is ineffective.
• An entrainer or extractive agent is a third component added to the azeotropic mixture to disrupt the azeotropic behavior.
• The entrainer forms a ternary mixture with the original components. This changes the vapor-liquid equilibrium, breaking the azeotropic behavior.
• A fractional distillation column is often used in azeotropic distillation.
• The column provides multiple theoretical plates for separation, allowing for better control over the vapor and liquid compositions at various stages of the distillation process.
• Factors such as temperature, pressure, and the choice of entrainer impact the success of the separation.

Azeotropic Mixture is a mixture of two or more liquids with a similar boiling point and a similar composition in their vapor phase. Unlike most mixtures, an azeotropic mixture has a constant boiling point and composition during the vaporization process. In this article, we will study the different concepts related to Azeotropic mixture in detail.