CHE3165 - Separation Processes

Test 2
18 April, 2011
Instructions
This is a closed book test. Only the data and formulae provided as part of the test paper may be used. The
marks for each part of the question are indicated. Show all working and label graphs clearly.
All working should be done in an exam script book, unless otherwise instructed (for example graphical
solutions on this exam paper). Write your name and ID Number on both this exam paper and
the exam script book. Any documents without a name and ID number will not be graded.

NAME:
ID NUMBER:

Question 1
An aqueous feed solution of 1000 kg/h containing 23.5 wt% acetone and 76.5 wt% water is being extracted
in a countercurrent multistage extraction system using pure methylisobutyl ketone solvent at 298 K. The
outlet water raffinate will contain 2.5 wt% acetone. Using the equilibrium data provided:
(i) Determine the mixture composition (state the concentration of all components) at the mixture point
for minimum solvent flow. [4 marks]
(ii) Calculate the minimum solvent that can be used. [4 marks]
(iii) Determine the mixture composition (state the concentration of all components) at the mixture point
for 510 kg/h solvent flow. [7 marks]
(ii) Using a solvent flow of 510 kg/h, calculate the number of theoretical stages. [10 marks]

Table 1: Liquid-liquid Equilibrium Data for Acetone-Water-Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIK) System at 298 K
Composition Data
Acetone Distribution Data
(wt %)
(wt %)
MIK Acetone Water Water phase MIK Phase
98.0
0
2.00
2.5
4.5
93.2
4.6
2.33
5.5
10.0
7.5
13.5
77.3
18.95
2.86
71.0
24.4
4.66
10.0
17.5
65.5
28.9
5.53
12.5
21.3
54.7
37.6
7.82
15.5
25.5
46.2
43.2
10.7
17.5
28.2
20.0
31.2
12.4
42.7
45.0
5.01
30.9
64.2
22.5
34.0
25.0
36.5
3.23
20.9
75.8
2.12
3.73
94.2
26.0
37.5
2.20
0
97.8

y=

0.5

wt. fraction acetone in

MIK rich phase

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

wt. fraction acetone in

water rich phase
Figure 1: Acetone distribution graph for Question 1

0.5

1.0

wt % acetone

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

wt % MIK
Figure 2: Equilibrium data for Question 1 - please show your working on the separate A3 sheet

Formulae and General Data

Atomic weights: H = 1, C = 12, N = 14, O = 16, S = 32, Cl = 35.5
Gas constant: R = 8.312 J/mol.K
Pressure: 101, 324 Pa 1 atm 760 mm Hg
Acceleration due to gravity: g = 9.81 m/s2
Properties of water (unless otherwise stated): = 1000 kg/m3 , = 1.00 mPa.s

Stagewise contacting of totally immiscible phases

V1

Vn

VN +1

yA1

yAn

yAN +1

....

....

L0

Ln

LN

xA0

xAn

xAN

The subscript (A) is often omitted on the composition variables when no confusion is possible.
Equilibrium General: yAn = f (xAn )
Gas-liquid (Henrys Law): pA = HxA

yA = H 0 x A

Liquid - liquid (Nernst): yA = mxA

Composition/flow variables - definitions:
XA = xA /xB

L0 = LxB

V 0 = V yB

B inert componenet

For binary mixtures - xA + xB = 1

Operating line:





Ln
V1 yA1 L0 xA0
yAn+1 =
xAn +
Vn+1
VN +1

  0 
 
  0 

yAn+1
xAn
xA0
L
yA1
L
=
+

1 yAn+1
V0
1 xAn
1 yA1
V0
1 xA0
 0
 0
L
L
YAn+1 =
XAn + YA1
XA0
0
V
V0

Absorption Factor: A = LAVE /mVAVE

( LAVE and VAVE are geometric mean values)
Transfer from V to L (Absorption):

N=

AN +1 A
yAN +1 yA1
= N +1
yAN +1 mx0
A
1



y +1 mxA0
log AN
1 A1 +
yA1 mxA0

1
A

log A

When A = 1
N=

yAN +1 yA1
yA1 mxA0

Transfer from L to V (Stripping, Liquidliquid extraction):

xA0 xAN
(1/A)N +1 (1/A)
=
xA0 yAN +1 /m
(1/A)N +1 1
h

i
xA0 yAN +1 /m
log xAN
(1

A)
+
A
yAN +1 /m
N=
log(1/A)
When A = 1
N=

xA0 xAN
xAN yAN +1 /m

Liquid-liquid extraction (partially miscible)

(x, y, z are solute mass/mol fractions)


L0 + VN +1 = M = LN + V1
L0 x0 + VN +1 yN +1 = M zM = LN xN + V1 y1

L0 V1 = = LN VN + 1 = Ln Vn+1
L0 x0 V1 y1 = z = LN xN VN +1 yN +1 = Ln xn Vn+1 yn+1

Binary distillation (McCabe Thiele)

(A = M.V.C.) (x, y are M.V.C fractions)
Raoult: pA = xA pA
Volatility: kA = y/x

pB = xB pB
kB = (1 y)/(1 x)

Relative volatility: = kA /kB

Equilibrium curve (constant ):
y=

x
1 + ( 1)x

Adiabatic flash:

V
y
F
zF
L
x
F zF = V y + Lx

(x, y in equilibrium)

Total
condenser
V1

D
(1)

L0

xD

(n)

Vn+1 Ln

F
zF

Lm1 Vm
(m)
(N )

VN +1

Reboiler

LN
(N + 1)

W
xW
Operating lines:

yn+1
ym




Ln
DxD
xn +
=
Vn+1
VN +1




Lm1
W xW
=
xm1
Vm
Vm

Constant molar overflow assumption:

Vn+1 = V
Ln = L
Vm = V
Lm1 = L
Feed stream:
q = moles liquid in stripping section arising from one mole of feed
q-line:

y=

q
1q


x+

zF
1q

Reflux ratio:
RD = L0 /D
Murphree Efficiency:

EM =

yn yn+1
yn yn+1

Molecular Diffusion
Ficks Law (Equimolar counter diffusion) - binary:
General:
JA = DAB

dcA
dz

Ideal gas:
JA = DAB

p

Tot

 dy

RT

dz

Stationary component (gas):

NA = JA + yA (NA + NB )

 p   y  
1
Tot
A
= DAB
RT
z
yB LogMean
Diffusion in solids
NA JA = DAB

dcA
dz

Gases through solid films:

NA
=

DAB SAB dpA

0.0224
dz
PAB dpA

0.0224 dz

SAB = Solubility of A in B (m3 A at STP)/(m3 solid)

PAB = Permeability of A in B
8

Gases in granular beds:

NA0 = Deff

dcA
dz

NA0 = Flux based on superficial conditions

Deff =


DAB

Effect of temperature and pressure on DAB :

Gases
DAB

T 1.75
pTot

Liquids (dilute):
DAB

Knudsen diffusion (SI Units):

Kn =
=

d r
3.2
RT
pTot 2MA

Flux:
DKA dpA

RT r dz
T
= 47.5d
MA

NA =
DKA

Film Mass Transfer Coefficients

Gas film (bulk interface) - equimolar counter transfer:
0
0
NA = kC
(cA cAi ) = ky0 (yA yAi ) = kG
(pA pAi )

Stationary component:
0
kC = kC
/yB

LogMean

Liquid film (interface bulk) - equimolar counter transfer:

0
NA = kC
(cAi cA ) = kx0 (xAi xA )

Stationary component
0
kC kC
/xB

Logmean

Dimensionless groups:
l
D
lv
Re =

Sc =
D

0
Sh = kC

Sherwood :
Reynolds :
Schmidt :
Stanton :

Sh
ReSc
Sh

St =

jD ( jM ) =

ReSc 1/3

l = characteristic linear dimension

Transfer between immiscible phases

(Gas liquid)

0
) = KG
(pA pA )
NA = KC0 (cA cA ) = Ky0 (yA yA

KC0 (cA

cA ) =

Kx0 (xA

xA )

(Liquid)

where

yA
= H 0 xA

yA

H0 xA

pA = HxA
=

H00 cA

(Liquid)

Interface:
yAi = H0 xAi = H00 cAi
pAi = HxAi
Overall coefficients:
1
Ky0
1
Kx0

=
=

1
H0
+
ky0
kx0
1
1
+ 0
0
0
H ky
kx

0 , K0 , K0
Analogous equations for KG
L
C

10

(Gas)

(Gas)

Gas Absorption (Stripping) - Continuous Contact Process

V V2
Y2 y2

L2 L
x2 X2
a = interfacial area per
unit volume of
packed tower

(2)

z2
Z = packed
bed height

S = tower crosssectional area

z1

(1)

V V1
Y1 y1

L1 L
x1 X1

General:
Z

y2

Z=
y1

(dy)
V

=
N aS (1 y)

x2

x1

L
(dx)

N aS (1 x)

Manipulation of the above:

Z y2
Z y2
V
(dy)
V
(1 y)LM (dy)
Z=

0
(1 y) (y y )
y1 Ky aS (1 y)(y y )
y1 Ky aS
Dilute solutions:
(1 y)LM
1.0
(1 y)

Z

Vave
Ky0 aS

Z

y2

y1

(dy)
(y y )

Additionally - Henrys Law holds


Z =

Vave
Ky0 aS


(1)

(y2 y1 )
(y y )


Log Mean 12

Hoy Noy
Analogous equations for gas film basis, and for liquid-phase balances.

Z = Hy Ny = HG NG = Hoy Noy = HoG NoG

= Hx Nx = HL NL = Hox Nox = HoL NoL

11