The Application of Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization of an Extractive Distillation Process

There is ample opportunity to save energy consumption of an extraction distillation unit by optimizing the stripper operation. Applying a surface response technique determined that the stripping water injection rate and stripper base temperature have an impact on unit energy consumption, whereas the lean solvent circulation has no effect. Optimization of the stripping water injection rate will provide the greatest energy savings. On the other hand, the lean solvent circulation and stripper base temperature have a positive correlation on raffinate purity, whereas stripping water injection does not influence the purity. Stripper base temperature has the greatest impact on raffinate purity.