CBD or IBD respectively. A series of minimum time
problems was solved at different values of product purity ranging
from 0.85 to 0.975 mole fraction. The impact of time dependant
reflux ratio policy on the product quality and batch time is analyzed
for CBD. For a given column configuration, it is noticed
that, the column operated with single reflux ratio interval was
not sufficient to produce high purity lactic acid. The saving in
operating time and improvements in product purity shows the
benefit of using multi-reflux intervals strategy rather than single
reflux ratio policy. Multi-reflux operation enjoys additional freedom
to have the balance between the conversion and the product
purity.