Rethinking energy use in distillation processes

Towards a more sustainable chemical industry by intensified distillation

The chemical industry uses about one third of the total energy used in industry. When zooming in on the chemical industry, distillation alone is responsible for about 40% of the energy. This article focuses on distillation and potential improvements for a more sustainable future. There is an increasing need and scope for advanced distillation technologies, but they must be considered in the context of the process as a whole. Several challenges and opportunities for research directions towards rethinking the energy use in distillation processes are highlighted.