Analysis of the separation of acetonitrile-water mixture

Acetonitrile (ACN) obtained as a by-product in the ammonification process of propene (SOHIO process) is necessary to be dehydrated. The presence of the azeotropic point limits the use of distillation for the separation of the mixture acetonitrile-water. Two alternative approaches are studied: extractive distillation and a hybrid process distillation-pervaporation. The both obtained pure ACN and for the point of view of energy consumption, the hybrid process proved to be more favorable.