Section 838 in Rules under the United Provinces Excise Act, 1910
838.
Most power alcohol distilleries are now fitted with plants using azeotropic methods and utilise benzene as the 'entraining liquid' for dehydrating alcohol. The process consist in the addition of benzene to aqueous alcohol and distillation of the ternary azeotropic mixture so warmed. Water is exhausted first and a binary alcohol benzene azeotrope is left. The remnant mixture is then distilled at a slightly higher temperature until all benzene is also exhausted and pure alcohol alone is finally left. This is absolute alcohol of strength over 74.4 O.P. The entire process is a continuous one and through out the operation careful control is maintained at all points by means of thermometers, pressure gauges and testing of samples drawn from various flow streams.
