Hussain, Mohammed A.M.Anthony, Jennifer L.Pfromm, Peter H.2011-03-032011-03-032011-03-03http://hdl.handle.net/2097/7765The thermal energy demand for producing fuel ethanol from the fermentation broth of a contemporary corn-to-fuel ethanol plant in the U.S. is largely satisfied by combustion of fossil fuels, which impacts the possible economical and environmental advantages of bio-ethanol over fossil fuels. To reduce the thermal energy demand for producing fuel ethanol, a process integrating salt extractive distillation – enabled by a new scheme of electrodialysis and spray drying for salt recovery – in the water-ethanol separation train of a contemporary corn-to-fuel ethanol plant is investigated. Process simulation using Aspen Plus® 2006.5, with the ENRTL-RK property method to model the vapor liquid equilibrium of the water-ethanol-salt system, was carried out. The integrated salt extractive distillation process may provide a thermal energy savings of about 30%, when compared with the contemporary process for separating fuel ethanol from the beer column distillate.This is a preprint of an article accepted for publication in AIChE Journal copyright 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.Salt extractive distillationEthanol distillationFuel ethanolElectrodialytic concentrationBio-ethanolArticle (author version)