Petrochemicals & organic chemicals
Alcohols
Alcohols are important solvents and source substances for numerous productions in the chemical industry.
Alcohols with several OH-groups are used for polymerization. Apart from natural alcohols, such as for example glycerin, alcohols are produced by fermentation of basic substances containing starch or sugar.
Short-chained alcohols such as methanol and ethanol are concentrated by way of distillation. Longer-chained alcohols with lower steam volatility can be concentrated in falling-film evaporation plants. The separators are often equipped with scrubbing columns in order to minimize product losses via the steam phase.
The mostly concentrated alcohols in distillation plants are methanol, and ethanol. 2-propanole and n-butanol are concentrated in evaporation plants.
Products & Technologies
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Distillation Test Facilities at Karlsruhe R&D Center
With state-of-the-art pilot plants and test benches our R & D Center is optimally equipped for testing in the fields of distillation technology.
Ejector Systems
Ejectors, are devices for the conveyance, compression or mixing of gases, vapors, liquids or solids in which a gaseous or liquid medium serves as the motive force. They are "pumps without moving parts".
Evaporation Plants
Sophisticated systems integrating all components of a thermal separation process plant, utilizing various types of evaporators and heat treatment, to achieve maximum energy efficiency, sustainability, and economic viability in industrial processes.
GEA specializes in crafting bespoke evaporation solutions that precisely match each client's unique...
Flash Dryers
With a history spanning from the Flash dryer's invention in 1928 to the development of unrivaled dispersion equipment and the most efficient integrated systems, no one knows more about Flash drying than GEA.
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GEA Insights
A new recipe for indulgence
What if your favorite chocolate didn’t require cocoa beans and your coffee was locally produced? As climate disruption, price hikes and ethical concerns hit two of our most beloved indulgences, scientists are reimagining how we produce them – using microbes, not monocultures. The goal: preserve the flavor and properties of coffee and chocolate while minimizing carbon emissions and improving food resilience.
Fueling the circular economy in shipping
Ports now compete not just on logistics, but on sustainability. At Greece’s Piraeus port, an advanced processing and recovery facility recycles ship waste oil into fuel. Equipped with GEA’s high-performance centrifuges, it sets a new benchmark for state-of-the-art, environmentally responsible port operations.
Closing the loop: key lessons for breweries from OeTTINGER
The 2022 CO2 shortage forced breweries to review their dependency on global supply chains. Many were forced to close, unable to carbonate their products. At its breweries in Germany, OeTTINGER GETRÄNKE is turning its own CO2 into a powerful lever for independence and sustainability – with the help of CO2 recovery technology from GEA.
