Extractive distillation is defined as distillation in the presence of a miscible, high boiling, relatively non-volatile

component, the solvent, that forms no azeotrope with the other components in the mixture. The method is used
for mixtures having a low value of relative volatility, nearing unity. Such mixtures cannot be separated by simple
distillation, because the volatility of the two components in the mixture is nearly the same, causing them to
evaporate at nearly the same temperature at a similar rate, making normal distillation impractical.
The method of extractive distillation uses a separation solvent, which is generally non-volatile, has a high boiling
point and is miscible with the mixture, but doesn't form an azeotropic mixture. The solvent interacts differently
with the components of the mixture thereby causing their relative volatilities to change. This enables the new
three-part mixture to be separated by normal distillation. The original component with the greatest volatility
separates out as the top product. The bottom product consists of a mixture of the solvent and the other component,
which can again be separated easily because the solvent does not form an azeotrope with it. The bottom product
can be separated by any of the methods available.
It is important to select a suitable separation solvent for this type of distillation. The solvent must alter the relative
volatility by a wide enough margin for a successful result. The quantity, cost and availability of the solvent should
be considered. The solvent should be easily separable from the bottom product, and should not react chemically
with the components or the mixture, or cause corrosion in the equipment. A classic example to be cited here is
the separation of an azeotropic mixture of benzene and cyclohexane, where aniline is one suitable solvent.
Azeotropic distillation is any of a range of techniques used to break an azeotrope in distillation. In chemical
engineering, azeotropic distillation usually refers to the specific technique of adding another component to
generate a new, lower-boiling azeotrope that is heterogeneous (e.g. producing two, immiscible liquid phases),
such as the example below with the addition of benzene to water and ethanol. This practice of adding an entrainer
which forms a separate phase is a specific sub-set of (industrial) azeotropic distillation methods, or combination
thereof. In some senses, adding an entrainer is similar to extractive distillation.
Distillation of water ethanol mixtures
Salt-effect distillation is a method of extractive distillation in which a salt is dissolved in the mixture of liquids
to be distilled. The salt acts as a separating agent by raising the relative volatility of the mixture and by breaking
any azeotropes that may otherwise form.

Dividing wall column (DWC) is a single shell, fully thermally coupled distillation column capable of separating
mixtures of three or more components into high purity products. Compared to conventional columns-in-series
and/or in-parallel configurations a DWC requires much less energy, capital and space. This makes DWC to
something that corresponds with the present day idea of sustainable process technology. Based on published
papers and patent literature this paper aims to give a complete overview of the work done so far on the research
and implementation of DWCs, from early ideas on thermal coupling of distillation columns to practical issues
that needed to be solved for their successful implementation. Approaches to short-cut and rigorous simulation,
optimization, and control are highlighted, with particular focus on column internals and dimensioning, which is
only conceptually considered in academic publications. A survey of relevant patents is included providing
information on equipment innovations and application areas of industrial interest. Finally authors look at what is
needed on research and engineering side to enable maximization of potential gains by building DWCs for
obtaining four or even more products containing two or more partition walls in parallel, which is something not
yet attempted in industrial practice.