Molecular Sieve Desiccant Packets for Formulation

Whenever it comes to protection against moisture, the first thing which comes in everyone’s mind is desiccants. Now desiccants are also of various types. Among all the most popular and the best is silica gel and molecular sieves beads. Although these desiccants are not much toxic unless it is consumed. But still some precautionary measures are taken and thus they comes sealed pack in breathing packets. Once these desiccants absorb moisture it locks them inside and makes the environment moisture free.

These molecular sieves beads are mostly used in pharmaceutical industries. As they help us to retain the originality of the product. Apart from this they are used in various other fields like food electronics, textile, stationary, leather and packaging industry. Whenever you buy any leather product, you must have seen a small packet with a do not eat tag and wondered what its use here is. It is very important at its own place. It not only controls moisture but also controls Odors. Many of the times these desiccants are used in breathers as well. That is because big machines perspire huge amount of moisture in the process of sudden cooling and heating. So, even a drop of moisture can be devastating. So apart from preventing the products from spoilage and fungus, bacterial growth it increases the life of machineries. As by using this product machines does not catch rust easily and thus increases its life. Desiccants have given a completely new phase to the food and packaging industry.

Dehydration of Ethanol Using Molecular Sieves

For the catalytic reaction crystalline aluminosilicate salts of the molecular sieve family is used. Now let’s we look how molecular sieve will help in the dehydration of the ethanol.

The rectified spirit which is produced in the rectifier is superheated with steam in feed super- heater. After following this stage the super heated rectified spirit from the feed super heater is passes to one of the pair of molecular sieve bed for many times. Later by time the superheated rectified spirit vapor is poured or moved to another pair of bed. The loaded bed is regenerated by using a small portion of the anhydrous ethanol vapor leaving the fresh adsorption bed. Following this process a moderate vacuum pump operating after the condensation of the regenerated ethanol water mixture. The condensate is then transferred from recycle drum to the rectified column in the hydrous distillation plant by recycle pump. The remaining anhydrous absolute alcohol draw is again condensed in product condenser and passed to product storage.one of the main advantage of using this process is it cost less and also normally the molecular sieve has a life span of around five to seven years. While comparing azeotropic distillation this process cost very low.

Molecular Sieve for Ethanol Dehydration Explored

Now a days  most of the countries are facing a great problem in the production of anhydrous ethanol due to the great efforts directed to use biofuels and diminishment in pollution and environmental problems of fossil fuels, So because of this many countries arising this issue as their main problems. Usually the extraction of anhydrous alcohol production comprises three main steps: fermentation distillation and dehydration. The ethanol quantity will be determined purely based on the last step that is the final dehydration step which depends on the operating conditions and the technology used.

 

It was found to be more time consuming and costly, because of this a new catalyst called molecular sieve beads is introduced for the production of anhydrous ethanol. Absolute alcohol is an important product required by industry. Many countries depends the production of high standard alcohol for their economic uplifting.

As per IS specification alcohol should be nearly 100% pure or water free alcohol. Rectified spirit, which is 94.68% alcohol, and the rest contained with water is currently available in market. Practically it is not possible to remain the water content from the rectified spirit by straight distillation as the compound; ethyl alcohol forms a constant boiling mixture with water at this stage to form a product known as azeotrope. Therefore special extraction process is needed for the removal of water for the manufacture of absolute alcohol. So the manufactures of absolute alcohol or for the dehydration of the alcohol we use molecular sieve process.