SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE IN REACTIVE DISTILLATION METHOD FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION: A CASE STUDY OF ETHYL LACTATE PRODUCTION

  • Muhammad Ikhsan Taipabu Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University
  • Geraldi Rahanra Department of Chemical Engineering, Pattimura University
  • Alif Nur Laili Rachmah Department of Chemical Engineering, Pattimura University
  • Sabrianah Badaruddin Department of Chemical Engineering, Pattimura University
  • Tamaratritania C. Trisnantaria Department of Chemical Engineering, Pattimura University
  • Clarissa Tan Department of Chemical Engineering, Pattimura University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30598/ale.7.2025.97-104
Keywords: Reactive distillation, Ethyl Lactate, Green Solvent, Process intensification, Aspen Plus

Abstract

Ethyl lactate, a biodegradable and environmentally friendly solvent, offers a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based solvents. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of ethyl lactate production through both conventional and intensified process designs using rigorous process simulation. The reactive distillation column (RDC) was identified as the most efficient configuration, achieving notable reductions in total capital cost (57.3%) and total operating cost (40.2%) compared to traditional setups. The NRTL thermodynamic model was employed to accurately capture non-ideal behavior among reactive components, and kinetic parameters were validated against experimental data. The results demonstrate that RDC-based process intensification significantly enhances economic performance while promoting sustainable chemical manufacturing, positioning it as a promising approach for future green solvent production.

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Published
2025-09-18
How to Cite
Taipabu, M. I., Rahanra, G., Rachmah, A. N. L., Badaruddin, S., Trisnantaria, T. C., & Tan, C. (2025). SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE IN REACTIVE DISTILLATION METHOD FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION: A CASE STUDY OF ETHYL LACTATE PRODUCTION. ALE Proceeding, 7, 97-104. https://doi.org/10.30598/ale.7.2025.97-104
Issue
Vol 7 (2025): Archipelago Engineering (ALE)
Section
Articles

Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Ikhsan Taipabu, Geraldi Rahanra, Alif Nur Laili Rachmah, Sabrianah Badaruddin, Tamaratritania C. Trisnantaria, Clarissa Tan

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