Towards reliable HETP values: Lessons learned from standardized separation efficiency measurements

The present work aims to give an overview of existing guidelines and further considerations regarding the thorough execution and standardization of separation efficiency measurements. It is targeted towards experimental investigators researching mass transfer performance of distillation and absorption columns. Additional recommendations beyond what is currently published in the literature are given to further standardize and enhance comparability of separation efficiency measurements. These recommendations are focused on laboratory-scale columns that have replaced larger columns in distillation research across industry and academia in the recent decades. The findings presented in this paper are the result of an exchange between distillation experts of more than a dozen competence centers from industry and academia within a joint project named “ReProvAP” that aims to reduce the uncertainties regarding column design when using a scale-up approach. In addition to providing recommendations for column operation, we identify several less apparent factors that may pose potential risks for errors during experimental investigations. Furthermore, a way is outlined to make the transferability of HETP values within the framework of a scale-up more efficient and robust in the future.