Distillation and Absorption (Area 2A)

Distillation and absorption remain the largest volume process operations in separations. While many consider these to be mature technologies, continuous improvements continue. The purpose of the Distillation and Absorption area (2A) in the Separations Division is to encourage further developments in Distillation and Absorption (D&A). D&A has a long history of applied application going back to the alchemists, to priests in ancient Egypt, and even before. Modern knowledge has converted magic into reliable operations that cover experimental through full-scale applications in a broad range of industries, including oil refining, petrochemicals, gas processing, biochemicals, food and beverage, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, electronic chemicals, and pulp and paper.

The D&A area focuses on fundamentals, processes, equipment, and control. This covers new ideas, improvements to existing applications, integration of distillation with other unit operations, and energy efficiency.  To serve these aims the D&A area of the AIChE Separations division:

• Provides support for programming at AIChE Meetings.
• Sponsors annual topical conferences focusing on distillation and absorption in the AIChE Spring Meetings.
• Publicly honors major contributors to the field and the AIChE.
• Hosts both social and technical get-togethers during major AIChE meetings.
• Coordinates programming with other parts of the Separations Division, other AIChE Divisions (subject areas), and highly active AIChE Sections (geographic areas).

Volunteers willing to aid the D&A Area activities are always welcome and needed!

D&A programming covers, but is not limited to:

• Conventional fractional distillation and absorption operations.
• Continuous and batch distillation.
• Heat integrated systems such as linked towers, thermally coupled columns, and divided-wall columns.
• Ternary and other distillation systems (azeotropic and extractive distillation).
• Multiphase distillation systems (multiple liquid phases or combined solid-liquid phases).
• Distillation linked with other unit operations
  
  • Reactive distillation
  • Distillation-crystallization combinations
  • Distillation-membrane combinations
  • Distillation-adsorption combinations
  • Other complex systems
• Distillation equipment.
• Distillation troubleshooting.
• Distillation control.
• Application of troubleshooting and analysis tools such as on-line gamma scanning of distillation columns.
• Distillation simulation.

• Distillation thermodynamics and vapor-liquid, vapor-liquid-liquid, and vapor-liquid-solid equilibrium analysis.