University Of Mauritius

BEng (Hons) Chemical and Environmental

Engineering - E400

Chemistry and Basic Engineering CHE 1001Y (3)

Assignment 2:
Describe different ways to split a mixture of benzene and methanol
into its components using two phase system separation.
Tutor: Dr. D. Surroop
Name: Fanilo Antra Tia Razafindralambo
Index number: 1312636

TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
3

Introduction...................................................................................................2
General Information......................................................................................3
3.1

Comparison between Methanol and benzene.................................3

Techniques of separation...............................................................................4
4.1

Separation based on density..............................................................4

4.2

Separations Based on a Change of state.........................................4

4.3

Separations Based on a Partitioning Between Phases..................5

References.....................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION

Recent advances in analytical chemistry are characterized by great progress towards more
powerful methods of separation, equaling in significance the great forward strides made in
instrumental methods of determination. It is important for an analyst to split the mixture into
its components to analyze it. Various techniques are used to separate different types of
mixtures but the methods of separation depend mostly on the properties of the components.
Here, we are dealing with a benzene-methanol mixture so it is important to know their
properties and attributes before attempting to separate them.General Information
1.1

COMPARISON BETWEEN METHANOL AND BENZENE

Table a. resumes important attributes of benzene and methanol that will be considered the
splitting techniques described in this document.
Properties

Benzene

Methanol

Color
Boiling Point/C
Density(at 20C)/g/mL
Polarity
Volatility
Solubility in water (g of
solute per mL of water)
Table a. Comparing benzene and methanol

Colorless

Colorless

80.1

64.6

0.879

0.791

Non-polar

Polar

High

Low

0.0018

Totally soluble

The table shows that benzene and methanol are both liquids at 20C.

3
Figure 1 Light refraction of
benzene (above) and water
(below).

Benzene is a non-polar, molecule whereas methanol is, this

also makes the two liquids immiscible. That is, the two
components form 2 distinct layers, or phases, to develop a
heterogeneous mixture. Benzene is very volatile as well,
due to the absence of bonding between its molecules but
Van der Waal forces of attraction.
Benzene should be handled with extreme caution as it is a
powerful skin irritant, a carcinogen and a mutagen. It is also
a flammable liquid hence a dangerous fire hazard. (New
Jersey Department of Health, 2008)
Methanol is polar because of the O-H group attached to it.
This gives the alcohol a high boiling point and is also the
reason why it is completely soluble in water, it forms
Hydrogen bonds with the water molecules.
Figure 1 shows exactly how the benzene-methanol mixture
would appear except that benzene would set down at the
bottom below methanol due to its higher density.
It is with this dissimilarity that we proceed to our first method of separation.

TECHNIQUES OF SEPARATION

2.1

i.

SEPARATION BASED ON DENSITY

Decantation

Decantation is a technique used to separate the

components of a mixture by the difference in their
densities.
Immiscible liquids, such as benzene and methanol can
be separated by using a separating funnel (Figure 2).
The mixture is put into a separating funnel, shaken and
allowed to settle. Benzene and from two separate layer.
The liquid with higher density, in this case benzene,
forms the lower layer. Remove the stopper and open
the tap after standing. The benzene runs out through
the tap. The methanol remains in the funnel and can be
run out into another beaker.
This method is a simple separation to implement since
it requires no special equipment, but obtaining a
Figure 2. A separating funnel
complete separation and a totally clear liquid can takes
a long time, especially when the difference in density is not large enough.
2.2

i.

SEPARATIONS BASED ON A CHANGE OF STATE

Azeotropic distillation

When we attempt to distill the mixture directly, the mixture will boil at a constant
temperature but will not change its composition. This is because the component ratio of
unvaporized solution is equal to that of the vaporized solution. Mixtures that behave this way
are termed azeotropes.
Azeotropes cannot be distilled by straight distillation but only by azeotropic distillation. A
standard distillation apparatus is used during the process. In general, a substance called
entrainer is added to the mixture to affect the volatility of one of the azeotrope elements. The
substance added is relatively non-volatile compared with the components to be separated, and
it is therefore fed continuously near the top of the column. In this case, water can be used as
entrainer.

2.3

SEPARATIONS BASED ON A PARTITIONING BETWEEN PHASES

a. Solvent Extraction
Solvent extraction or Liquid-liquid extraction is a technique in which a solution (usually
aqueous) is brought into contact with a second solvent (usually organic), essentially
immiscible with the last, in order to bring about a transfer of one or more solute into the
second solvent. In the case of a benzene-methanol mixture, we are dealing with organic
solutes, the extraction system will, therefore, involve immiscible organic solvents rather than
the aqueous-organic type of extraction.
A simple separating funnel can be used for extractions.
Choice of solvent
1

A high distribution ratio for the solute and a low distribution ratio for undesirable
impurities.

Low solubility in the aqueous phase.

Sufficiently low viscosity and sufficient density difference from the aqueous phase to
avoid the formation of emulsions.

Low toxicity and flammability.

Ease of recovery of solute from the solvent for subsequent analytical processing. Thus
the b.p. of the solvent and the ease of stripping by chemical reagents merit attention
when a choice is possible.

Here are some solvents that can be used in this process:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Ether (Ethyl Ether-very flammable)

Methylbenzene
Chloroform
Tetrachloromethane
Water

Extraction
It can be accomplished in either a batch operation or a continuous operation.
Batch:
Extracting the solute from one immiscible layer by simply shaking the two layers until
equilibrium is attained. Then the layers are allowed to settle and separated.
Batch extraction offers some advantages:
1

simple and easy

must be repeated several times

separations readily obtainable

6

constant temperature

For most complete extraction, the best results are obtained by a relatively large number of
extractions with small amounts of solvent.
Continuous:
Continuous extraction makes use of a continuous flow of immiscible solvent through the
solution or a countercurrent flow of both phases.
Spent solvent is stripped and recycled.

Stripping
Stripping is the removal of extracted solute from the organic phase for further preparation for
detailed analysis.
If the solvent is volatile (e.g. diethyl ether) the simplest procedure is to add a small volume of
water and evaporate the solvent on a water bath. Care should be taken to avoid loss of solute
during the evaporation.
It must be pointed out that from the safety point of view, the most dangerous step in
extraction procedures is the stripping of volatile solvents by evaporation.

REFERENCES

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Available at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/toxics/airtox1b.pdf
[Accessed 1 February 2014].
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Available at:
http://www.biomanufacturing.org/protein_cash/articles/Purification_Liquid_Chromatography.
pdf [Accessed 1 February 2014].
3. Anon., n.d. Methanex. [Online]
Available at: http://www.methanol.org/Technical-Information/Resources/TechnicalInformation/Physical-Properties-of-Pure-Methanol.aspx
[Accessed 1 February 2014].
4. Freiser, G. H. M. a. H., 1957. Solvent extraction in Analytical Chemistry. United States of
America: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
5. Harker, J. F. R. a. J. H., 1955. Particle Technology and Separation Processes. 2nd ed.
Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
6. Health, N. J. D. o., 2008. The Official Website for The State Of New Jersey. [Online]
Available at: http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0197.pdf
[Accessed 3 February 2014].
7. John R. Dean, Alan M. Jones, David Holmes, Rob Reed, Jonathan Weyers, Allan Jones,
2002. Practical skills in chemistry. Edinburgh Gate: Pearson Education Limited.
8. Renge, V. C., 2013. International Journal for Chemical and Physical Science. [Online]
Available at: http://www.ijcps.org/issue7/P2.pdf
[Accessed 3 February 2014].
9. Richardson, J. M. C. a. J. F., 2005. Chemical Engineering Design. 6th ed. Linacre House,
Jordan Hill, Oxford: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.
10. Vogel, A. I., 1989. A Textbook of quantitative analytical chemistry. 5th ed. Burnt Mill,
Harlow: Longman Group UK Ltd.