Process control studies for treatment of industrial effluents

Abstract

Inadequate process control in distillation columns often led to poor functioning and unsatisfactory operations. Suitable control of distillation columns is commonly required for troubleshooting purposes. Distillation is the cleaner, greener, and the most important separation method used to treat industrial effluents discharged from process industries. The industrial effluents are professionally treated through various distillation techniques to avoid contamination of water. The high purity water can be obtained by the implementation of an appropriate separation technique which can be properly controlled. In the present study, focus has been laid on the separation of acetonitrile-water azeotropic mixture. An efficient pressure swing distillation (PSD) separation technique has been proposed to treat such a highly toxic industrial effluent which could otherwise prove hazardous to human health. A robust and efficient control structure for the said process has been proposed, which has resulted in maintaining water purity of 99.99% irrespective of principle disturbances stimulated in the flowrate and composition of the feed.