[gegio1960]

I'd like to know the industrial ways to recover >95% acetone from a mixture (about 50/50) of acetone and water.
I think of distillation under moderate vacuum but, unfortunately, didn't find examples of real/running plants.
Thank you

[curiouscat]

It doesn't form an azeotrope (I think). And BP is quite far apart. Relative volatility should be good.

Why not distillation?

Why would you want a vacuum? If you do apply one your top temp. would drop very close to cooling water. That'll be bad for your condenser design. 

[gegio1960]

Hi curiouscat.
Thank you for your answer.
You've touched a couple of points that I'd like to further discuss.

Azeotrope
Some (old) references report about an azeotrope but others (like Dechema) don't.
This is not a good starting point, isn't it? This is one of the reasons why I'd like to be in contact with people having real plant experience with acetone-water system.

Vacuum
Generally speaking, you're right about vacuum conditions and bad condenser design.
In my case the vacuum (moderate vacuum, not a very tough problem for the condensation) has, at least, two advantages:
1) I need to stay somewhat below the 100°C in the bottom of the tower to avoid degradation of the (heavy) "contaminants"
2) going down with the pressure, the pinch (not the azeotrope) will be relaxed.

I kindly repeat my request of contacts/discussions by acetone experts... unfortunately they seem not existing or, more likely, not interested :-(

Kind regards

[curiouscat]

I'd trust the DECHEMA data. What composition do your references indicate the azeotrope is at?

How many mmHg are you intending?

What's your spec. on Acetone purity?

[gegio1960]

"I'd trust the DECHEMA data"... me too!

"How many mmHg are you intending?" 0.5 bara

"What's your spec. on Acetone purity?". the spec that really counts is the recovery of acetone (> 95%), for the purity also 90% wt is enough.