PROJECTS / CASE STUDIES

CMC & PAC Plant Revamp Case – Alcohol Recovery Optimization

Project Year: 2019
Scope: Process upgrade / plant revamp
Client: CMC & PAC manufacturer with over 20 years of operation

Background

The client was operating an aging CMC & PAC production line. One of the major issues identified was low alcohol recovery efficiency.

After the vacuum belt filter, the product still contained approximately 15–20% residual alcohol, resulting in:

• High solvent consumption

• Increased operating costs

• Inefficient resource utilization

Solution

ZHAOYUAN conducted a feasibility analysis of the existing process and identified the bottleneck in the post-filtration stage.

A targeted solution was proposed:

Installation of a steam stripper downstream of the vacuum belt filter

Process Optimization

Original process:
Vacuum Belt Filter → Product (15–20% alcohol content)

Optimized process:
Vacuum Belt Filter → Steam Stripper → Reduced alcohol content

The steam stripper enabled further recovery of alcohol from the wet material, significantly improving overall recovery efficiency.

Results

• Improved alcohol recovery rate

• Reduced solvent loss

• Lower production cost

• Enhanced process efficiency

Conclusion

This case demonstrates that strategic process upgrades can deliver substantial economic benefits without the need for full plant reconstruction.

ZHAOYUAN specializes in:

• Cellulose plant EPC

• Process optimization

• Plant revamping & debottlenecking

For existing plants facing performance or cost challenges, targeted engineering solutions can make a significant difference.