Energy efficient separation of ethanol from aqueous solution

A system for extracting ethanol from an ethanol-water solution comprising:

• a liquid feed inlet comprising the ethanol-water solution and a first solvent;
• a mixer in fluid communication with the liquid feed inlet, wherein the mixer continuously mixes the ethanol-water solution and the first solvent, wherein the ethanol-water solution comprises ethanol and the first solvent comprises an esterified fatty acid, wherein the esterified fatty acid comprises a hydroxylated fatty acid component and an alcohol component such that the alcohol component is a C3-6 alcohol, wherein the distribution coefficient for ethanol in the mixture of the ethanol-water solution and the first solvent is at least 0.02 favoring the transfer of ethanol from the ethanol-water solution to the first solvent;
• a separation vessel in fluid communication with the mixer;
• a pressurized extraction vessel in fluid communication with with the separation vessel, wherein the extraction vessel operates at a pressure sufficient to maintain the carbon dioxide is at a liquid or near supercritical phase, wherein the transfer of ethanol from the first solvent to the carbon dioxide is effected in the extraction vessel;
• a vaporizer in fluid communication with the extraction vessel, wherein the vaporizor operates at a pressure sufficient to convert the carbon dioxide to vapor phase, wherein release of the ethanol from the carbon dioxide is effected in the vaporizer;
• and
• a collector in communication with the vaporizer, wherein the collector contains the ethanol released from the carbon dioxide in the vaporizer.