Water generated by esterification can be removed as it is formed by way of pervaporation. We obtained some pretty good results with a ceramic pervaporation membrane, even under acidic environment. You can contact me at:
maurice.velterop@pervatech.nl
Maybe a bit late, but have you thought about preferential removal of water by using a membrane? Ceramic membranes could do the trick here. That way you do not need to recycle the FB for breaking the azeotrope.
maurice.velterop@pervatech.nl
For pervaporation membranes that can handle temperatures up to 250 degrees C, I refer to the web page: www.pervatech.nl. They have ceramic pervaporation membranes suitable for pervaporation or vapor permeation. Dehydration of ethanol at these temperatures is not a problem for these type of...