One of the alternate fuels that can be used is fuel grade alcohol, which is anhydrous ethanol
with water content of no more than 0.5%. To get ethanol > 99.6% can not be through ordinary
distillation, because ethanol has a point azeotrope where the vapor composition similar to
composition liquid. Though the need for anhydrous ethanol is big enough.
The research aims to go beyond the point azeotrope ethanol by combining method and salt
effect of extractive distillation to obtain anhydrous ethanol with high purity. In extractive
distillation solvent is used ethylene glycol and potassium carbonate salts as the salt effect.
Both these ingredients are mixed with a composition that has been determined and
incorporated into the distillation flask as entrainer mixed with 70% ethanol. Take place within
the plate distillation column with a pressure of 1 atm, time reflux for 1 hour. Distillate purity
obtained is analyzed, the relative volatility and acid numbers. Meanwhile, under the product
or residue can be used to recycle the next process. Of course, with further proceedings
because the residue contains ethylene glycol - salt - water.
The study concluded that the purity of 99.74% by weight of ethylene glycol on the addition of
300 ml and 55 g of salt. Relative volatility is 7.1518 and the largest number of smallest acid is
0.0048 obtained when the addition of 500 ml ethylene glycol and 55 grams of salt
