Removal of Ammonium Hydroxide from Ethanol

Salvaging Ethanol from a Stober Process Waste Stream

May 27th, 2016Project Manager: Robin Ihnfeldt

Group 09:Alan Tam Reiko Liu

Joseph Guarnes Melissa Nguyen

Project Statement

Stober Reaction: Si(OC2H5)4 + 2 H2O → SiO2 + 4 C2H5OH

90% Ethanol<2% Water<2% Ammonium Hydroxide<1% TEOS & Organics/Alcohols

GOAL: < 0.50% NH3

★ ~85% of the material cost accounts for ethanol

1.Distillation Column

< 99% NH3 removal10% EtOH Loss 3% Water

< 0.1% NH3 left96% EtOH~ 3% Water

T = 31 oCP = 1.2 atm

T = 78 oCP = > 1 atm

EtOH 95%Water 3%NH3 2%

T = 25 oCP = 1 atm

Distillation Cost & Material

2. Bubble Bed

& Carbon BedAIR

~ 0.5% NH396.5% Ethanol~ 3% Water

~ 1.0% NH396% Ethanol~ 3% Water

Temp28oC

Temp40oC

FEED

Bubble Bed’s Specifications Bubble Size = 0.5 cmContact time = 10s

Bubble Distributor

4 mm

5 ft

6 in

Cost and Material for Bubble Bed & Carbon Bed

➢ Plexiglass

➢ Temperature (28oC, 40oC)

➢ Observe the bubble formation for future adjustment

➢ Simple Design and Construction

➢ Activated Carbon $8.70/kg of C

Estimated Cost = < $10,000

Safety Consideration

Environmental Impact 1. Incineration 2. Repurpose

for fuel3. Repurpose for fertilizer

Potential Impact

I M I x M

I M I x M

I M I x M

Noise 2 2 4 2 1 2 2 1 2

Odor 2 2 4 2 2 4 2 1 2

Air pollution

4 3 12 4 3 12 4 2 8

Water pollution

5 1 5 5 1 5 5 2 10

Land pollution

3 0 0 3 0 0 3 1 3

Totals 25 23 25

Future Work & Recommendations

➢ Cost & Economic Analysis

➢ Find a method to accurately determine the amount of NH3 left in the solution

➢ Dr. Russ

➢ Dr. Fakhimi

Thanks for Listening!

Questions?

➢ Dr. Ihnfeldt

➢ Wesley Appleget, Melissa Averina & Danh Nguyen

Acknowledgements