Techno-economic analysis of diethyl ether production via catalytic dehydration of ethanol

Abstract

The major source of energy comes from non-renewable fuels, which have a non-sustainability and negative impact on the environment. Thus, there is change to renewable fuels as bioethanol. Diethyl ether (DEE) is a part of bioethanol. However, the increase of electric vehicles (EV) may decrease ethanol demand for biofuel in the future. Thus, it will be interesting in adding value to ethanol via the catalytic dehydration to produce DEE by conduct techno-economic analysis. Further, there is comparison on different concentrations of ethanol (93% and 95% ethanol) that affect DEE production. For simulation part, the DEE capacity of 3,600 tons/year is the most profitable due to the highest %IRR and offers a shorter POP. The highest energy consumption of electricity and thermal duty is at the DEE capacity of 3,600 tons/year as well as the CO2 emission due to the large utility is required and larger CO2 content is released. For experiment part, the water content in the ethanol solution has effect on the Ru-HBZ catalyst. For ethylene yield, the water content has slight effect on the catalyst at 400°C. In contrast, for DEE yield, the water content has a greater effect on the catalyst at 250°C due to the water molecule resulted in an increase the Brønsted acidity and blocking of Lewis acid sites, to the lower activity of the catalyst. By-product is acetaldehyde when the water content increases, the acetaldehyde yield increases.