Pressure swing distillation for the separation of methyl acetate‐methanol azeotrope

Abstract Pressure swing distillation (PSD) process was used to separate methyl acetate‐methanol azeotrope. Through the phase diagram analysis, distillation sequence and technological process were determined. On the basis of the principle of the minimum total annual cost (TAC), design variables such as feeding position, reflux ratio, and column plate number were optimized and the optimal parameters were determined. The high‐pressure column (HPC) under various pressures were analysed. The economic results of the PSD without heat integration, with partial heat integration, and with full heat integration were compared. The comparison results indicate that the TAC of the PSD without heat integration is the highest. The PSD with partial integration and full heat integration can effectively reduce the total capital cost and total operating cost. Compared with the PSD without heat integration, the TACs of partial heat integration and full heat integration exhibit 27% and 30% savings, respectively. Therefore, the PSD with full heat integration is more economically reasonable for separating methyl acetate‐methanol azeotrope.