Tailoring turpentine for fine chemicals: experimentation and simulation of fractional vacuum distillation for selective α- and β-pinene enrichment

Turpentine oil, a natural source of valuable monoterpenes like α- and β-pinene, presents an opportunity for sustainable fine chemical production. This work explores the tailoring of turpentine through selective enrichment of α- and β-pinene via fractional concentric-tube-column (CTC) vacuum distillation. We conducted experimental studies using a micro-distiller to investigate the effects of key operating parameters, including reboiler temperature, vacuum, and reflux control, on separation performance. A 2⁴-factorial design was employed to evaluate the individual and interactive effects of these parameters. The experimental data were used to develop and validate a comprehensive computational model capable of predicting process performance under diverse operating conditions. The model was leveraged to simulate the separation process and identify optimal conditions for maximizing α- and β-pinene enrichment. The results demonstrated the potential of fractional CTC vacuum distillation to efficiently separate α- and β-pinene from turpentine oil, with high purity and recovery. The validated simulation provides a valuable tool for further optimization and scale-up of the process. This work contributes to the development of sustainable and efficient methods for the valorization of turpentine oil for fine chemical production.