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I am trying to separate a binary mixture of 1,1-Dimethoxyethane and Methanol. Unfortunately the two are highly azeotropic - A Tx,y plot generated at 1atm with Aspen shows the two curves nearly touching at all points.

I am pretty sure I need to run the column with vacuum by using a pump or turbine. I swear I have tried every means of adding a pump in Aspen but it never works. It will either give an error about the pressure or pressure drop or it will do nothing and the binary mixture basically goes half out the top of the column and half out the bottom in the same proportion as they entered.

Any tips on setting up a vacuum tower/column in Aspen Plus would be greatly appreciated!

Okay I have managed to separate the Methanol and 1,1-DME without using vacuum, just partial vacuum (column is still at positive pressure, but it is below ambient pressure).

Now I need to work on my ternary separation of Acetaldehyde, DME and Methanol. I am currently getting too much DME entereing the recycle with acetaldehyde.