PENGERINGAN ETANOL DALAM KOLOM UNGGUN TETAP DENGAN ADSORBENT SILICA GEL

Abstract

Bioethanol is one of renewable energy source. One example of the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel: a mixture of gasoline and alcohol (>99%) called Gasohol for gasoline fuel substitute.One method of drying ethanol is adsorption method. This study is aimed to dry ethanol (ethanol concentration> 99%) or  fuel grade as an alternative fuel by adsorption method in a fixed bed column with  adsorbent silica gel. Dry ethanol is obtained from purifying (distillation) and dryng (adsorpstion).The drying process begins with the process of refining ethanol from fermentation +- 95% continued to ethanol distillation process until the concentration dries in fixed bed column. This tool consists of: a fixed bed column (adsorber column), ethanol bait container (stokpot), electric stove, a condenser and adsorber to the condenser connector. Adsorber column consists of the adsorbent tubes with a diameter of 3.6 cm and, tube-in adsorber with a diameter of 3.8 cm, the outer tube adsorber with a diameter of 6cm and 40 cm high. Adsorber column is equipped with a heating jacket is water-tube that is placed between inner and outer tube-adsorber. Ethanol feed is heated in ethanol bait traps using electric stove and heater temperature is maintained at a temperature of +- 80ºC. Ethanol vapor is then flowed into the fixed bed column containing the adsorbent silica gel ( +- 200 gr) which have been dried.Adsorber column temperature is maintained by running hot water in the jacket heater with a temperature of +-78ºC. Drying of ethanol is run for 120 minutes. Ethanol vapor output from the adsorber column is condensed into liquid ethanol through the condenser. The output of ethanol from the condenser is collected and analyzed using picnometer ethanol content.