The present disclosure provides processes and systems for ethanol production. In one embodiment, a first beer column receives a first portion of a feed mixture including ethanol and water to form a first beer column bottom stream and a first beer column vaporous overhead stream. A beer column receives a second portion of the feed mixture. A first portion of the first beer column bottom stream is forwarded to a first beer column reboiler. A second portion of the first beer column bottom stream is forwarded to a plurality of evaporators. A condensed portion of the first beer column vaporous overhead stream is forwarded to a stripper column. The stripper column forms a feed stream, which is contacted with a separation system, thereby forming a permeate and a retentate. The permeate is forwarded directly to at least one selected from the first beer column and the stripper column.

The invention relates to a process for the purification of ethanol wherein a dividing wall column is used. In particular, the invention relates to a process for the purification of a feed stream comprising ethanol and impurities such as higher alcohols. The invention further relates to the use of dividing wall in distillation column in an ethanol purification process.

A method and apparatus are presented for reducing the methanol content in a fermented solution to create forms healthier to human consumption, thereby reducing headaches and hangovers. In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, the fermented solution is placed in a vacuum vessel and heated to a fixed temperature. Pulling a fixed vacuum within the vessel lowers the boiling point of the solution, creating a vapor selectively of the low-end congeners, for example, methanol. The methanol-rich vapor is condensed and disposed leaving a healthier fermented solution with reduced methanol content. In some embodiments, the fixed temperature is lower than or equal to 32 degrees C. which preserves the aroma and taste of the fermented solution.

The system and methods described are directed to a distillation system and method having an evaporator tank with a wall surrounding an interior evaporator tank area. A non-oxidizing gas line is disposed at least partially outside the evaporator tank in communication with the interior evaporator tank area, wherein the non-oxidizing gas line introduces a non-oxidizing gas into the interior evaporator tank; the interior evaporator tank area is generally at or above an ambient atmospheric pressure.

The present invention aims at providing a method for producing a high-concentration alcohol from a water-alcohol mixture, in which the overall process is efficient and the present invention relates to a production method of a high-concentration alcohol, including a water adsorption step of adsorbing water of a water-alcohol mixture on an adsorption column to obtain a first concentrated alcohol, a water desorption step of introducing an alcohol to obtain a hydrous alcohol, and a membrane separation step of introducing the hydrous alcohol into a membrane separation unit provided with a membrane composite containing zeolite having an SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 molar ratio of 5 to 15 to obtain a second concentrated alcohol.

Systems and methods in accordance with the present invention provide for the efficient distillation of ethanol in an ethanol plant including a beer column. Heat is captured in the distillation process and utilized to drive operations in the ethanol plant.

A system including a distillation pot device; a dividing implement disposed on a proximate middle portion of the distillation pot device; a first chamber section disposed on a first side of the dividing implement, the first chamber section is configured to produce at least a first flavored drink or liquor; a first cap implement that is into engagement with a proximate top part of the first chamber section, said first cap implement is configured to capture rising steam from the first chamber section; a second chamber section disposed on a second side of said dividing implement that is configured to produce at least a second flavored drink or liquor; and a second cap implement, the second cap implement being into engagement with a proximate top part of said second chamber section, the second cap implement is configured to capture rising steam from the second chamber section.

The present invention aims at providing a method for producing a high-concentration alcohol from a water-alcohol mixture, in which the overall process is efficient and the present invention relates to a production method of a high-concentration alcohol, including a water adsorption step of adsorbing water of a water-alcohol mixture on an adsorption column to obtain a first concentrated alcohol, a water desorption step of introducing an alcohol to obtain a hydrous alcohol, and a membrane separation step of introducing the hydrous alcohol into a membrane separation unit provided with a membrane composite containing zeolite having an SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 molar ratio of 5 to 15 to obtain a second concentrated alcohol.

The present invention concerns a method for purifying an aqueous lactic acid solution, obtained from a fermentation medium or from any other source previously cleared of solid substances and/or of biomass that may be present and ionic substances, characterised in that it comprises the two following steps: a. Concentration of the lactic acid solution until a concentration of between 85 and 95% is reached, preferably of between 90 and 95%, i.e. between 15 and 5% free water or preferably between 10 and 5% free water; b. Distillation in a multi-stage column comprising three areas and allowing the separation, in a single step, of the lactic acid, volatile compounds and the heaviest impurities.

The present invention relates to a system and method for distillation to reduce steam consumption has been disclosed. The system comprises of an analyser column 11, multiple pressure booster units (fan set-I 79, fan set-II 24, and fan set-III 29), a rectifier column 15, a plurality of evaporator units (30,12), a splitter unit 05, a plurality of de-superheating units (03, 80), and additional DDGS dryer unit 25. The integration of pressure booster units (fan set-I 79, fan set-II 24, and fan set-III 29) and additional DDGS dryer unit 05 increases the steam (vapor) production and reduces the steam (vapor) consumption in the system from external source and balances the optimization of process energy requirements, energy cost, and process carbon intensity.