Base Application for Batch Distillation

This application is designed to facilitate the estimation of critical parameters in the batch distillation process.

This application was developed for the Separation Laboratory course at UNIMET to simulate the distillation of an isopropanol-water mixture through a batch distillation process. Starting with the creation of a calibration curve to operate within a range of 10 - 25% V/V of isopropanol alcohol (IPA) for a distillation column equipped with 10 DN50 bubble cap trays, each approximately 5 cm in diameter, and a 10 L boiling flask, which was heated to a fluctuating temperature between 200-250 ºC.

The refractive index was measured in 100 mL samples, collecting approximately 7 distillate samples over a period from 40-60 minutes.

It allows to calculate:

• The necessary time to achieve a specific distillate concentration.

• The percentage of IPA recovery.

• The volume and concentration of the residue after distillation.

• The volume and concentration of the obtained distillate.

Calculations are based on the following user-provided input data:

• The initial concentration in the feed.

• The desired concentration of the distillate.

• The total volume of the feed.

• The target concentration in the residue.

However, an error was identified from the IPA concentration established by the supplier, which affects the accuracy of the results. Consequently, the MATLAB application requires recalibration based on an accurate value of the alcohol concentration to successfully emulate a simulation result that is faithful to the theoretical distillation process.