A systematic review of mathematical modeling for molecular distillation technologies

Molecular distillation is a separation technique used to separate thermosensible compounds. This process is often used to obtain concentrates of value-added products. For this reason, the research in this field has grown steadily during the past years. However, many efforts to simulate the transport phenomena occurring in this process and the thermodynamic properties of the molecules to be separated have fallen flat. Achieving a simulation that resembles what occurs in this process requires a thorough understanding of the molecular behavior of various substances under different conditions. This paper reviews several recently proposed methodologies to predict this behavior during the molecular distillation process. Thus, group contribution models and empirical correlations are used to estimate the value of some properties and coefficients which, in turn, determine the specific ways in which heat, mass, and momentum vary in a Molecular Distillation separation system. The transfer equations are discussed in mathematical models. Thin film, vapor phase, molecule collision, and mean free path are also important topics in molecular distillation, so they are also discussed in this review. Finally, some applications are summarized and a new case for the cannabis industry is supported.