In this paper, the production of high purity ethanol using an experimental dividing wall distillation column using glycerol as entrainer is studied considering batch and semi-continuous operations. In the semi-continuous distillation, an ethanol-water mixture of composition 92% wt. ethanol was introduced in the pot and the glycerol was supplied through a continuous feed near to the top of the distillation column, it was possible to produce a distillate with a composition higher than 99% wt. ethanol. This result is important since it is possible to use this ethanol mixed with gasoline in the current motor vehicles operated with gasoline. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.