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1150523 
Journal Article 
Simulation of a neutral spirit production plant using beer distillation 
Decloux, M; Coustel, J 
2005 
0 
International Sugar Journal
ISSN: 0020-8841 
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA LTD. 
107 
1283 
628-643 
WOS:000233215400011 
The aim of this study was to simulate with ProSim Plus software the functioning of distillation columns used to produce neutral spirit from beer. A model solution, consisting of water, ethanol and 6 representative congeners (acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, methanol, propanol, isobutanol, isoamyl alcohol) was employed. Two models were chosen which were considered to be suitable for alcohol solutions (NRTL and UNIFAC). Comparison of the predictions supplied by these two models with the data published by a Japanese team made it possible to prefer the UNIFAC model. Simulations were performed for the entire plant, comprising 7 columns in series (two to produce intermediate product and five to obtain neutral spirit). These simulations demonstrated the role of each of these columns: the beer stripper produces an intermediate product with a markedly reduced isoamyl alcohol content; the extractive distillation column eliminates most of the ethyl acetate and acetaldehyde and half of the high alcohols, but has no action on methanol; the rectifier column makes it possible to eliminate the remaining high alcohols, and finally, the demethylizer is essential to eliminate methanol. The congeners concentrating column makes it possible to concentrate the ethanol in order to comply with commercial requirements, and above all to recycle 55% of the ethanol introduced into it from extractive and rectifier columns. 
Congeners; Ethyl alcohol; Concentrating; Methyl alcohol; Distillation; Beer; ANTE; Alcohols; Rectifiers 
• Methanol (Non-Cancer)
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