Methods to assess numerous distillation schemes for binary mixtures

In this work, we describe strategies that help process designers in the identification and design of efficient distillation schemes for separating binary mixtures. Over the decades, numerous distillation schemes have been proposed in the literature as more efficient alternatives for the conventional heat-supplied distillation. However, a comprehensive analysis that helps to navigate through this large landscape of distillation schemes remains unavailable at one source. Here, we present numerous insights in the form of observations and remarks that explain why and when the alternatives are more efficient than the conventional heat-supplied distillation. The need for this article becomes apparent given that an understanding has begun to emerge that distillation is inherently inefficient and it needs to be replaced with alternative technologies to make industrial separations more sustainable. The main reason behind such general statements is either the use of an incorrect definition of efficiency or the consideration of an inefficient mode of operation. Here, we elucidate the correct approach to understand the efficiency of distillation, and demonstrate that it can be very efficient when the right operating mode is chosen.