Chemical and Food Engineering Department

ChE421 – Separation Process and Introduction to Particle Technology

Exercise No. ____

MCCABE – THIELE METHOD

 For the separation of a mixture of benzene and toluene, xd = 0.9, xw = 0.1, and xf = 0.4. If
the mean volatility of benzene relative to toluene is 2.4
1. What is the number of plates required at total reflux?
2. What is the minimum reflux ration, Rm, at boiling point?
Solution:
1. The number of plates at total reflux:
0.9 0.9
log⁡[( )( )]
0.1 0.1
n+1= log 2.4
n=4
2. Minimum Reflux Ratio
1 xd (1−𝑥𝑑)
Rm = 𝛼⁡−⁡1 [𝑥𝑓 − 𝛼 (1−𝑥𝑓)]
1 0.9 (1−0.9)
= [ − 2.4 ]
2.4⁡−⁡1 0.4 (1−0.4)
Rm = 1.32

A continuous rectifying column handles a mixture consisting of 40% benzene by mass and 60%
toluene at the rate of 4 kg/s, and separates it into a product containing 97% of benzene and a liquid
containing 98% toluene. The feed is liquid at its boiling point.

Xa(C6H6) 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
Ya(C6H6) 0.22 0.38 0.51 0.63 0.7 0.78 0.85 0.91 0.96

3. Calculate the mass flows of distillate and waste liquor. (D & B)

4. The minimum number of theoretical stage (Nmin)
5. The minimum reflux ratio. (Rmin)
6. If R= 3.5 is used, how many plates are required in the rectifying part of the column and
what is the number of plates if the plate efficiency is 60%?
Solution:
 Nmin = number of triangles
Nmin = 10 plates

A continuous fractionating column is to be designed for separating 10,000 kg per hour of a liquid
mixture containing 40 mole percent methanol and 60 mole percent water into an overhead product
containing 97 mole percent methanol and a bottom product having 98 mole percent water. A mole
reflux ratio of 3 is used.
7. Calculate moles of overhead product obtained per hour and
8. Number of ideal plates and location of the feed plate if the feed is at its bubble point.

Given:
Feed rate = 10,000 kg/hr
zF = 0.4
xD = 0.97
xW = 0.02
R=3
Solution:
7. Moles of overhead product:
Average molecular weight of feed = (0.4 x 32) + (0.6 x 18) = 23.6 kg/kmol
Molal flow rate of feed = 10000/23.6 = 423.73 kmol/hr

Material balance equations:

F=D+W
F zF = D xD + W xW
Where F = feed; D = distillate; W = residue
 Substituting for the known quantities,
423.73 = D + W
423.73 x 0.4 = 0.97 D + 0.02 W
0.97 D - 0.02 D = 169.492 - 8.4746
D = 169.492 kmol/hr

8. Number of ideal plates:

Slope of 'q - line' = ∞

R = L/D = 3

Ntheo = 6.8 stages

Ntheo ≈ 7 stages

9. A saturated liquid mixture containing 60 mole % benzene and 40 mole % toluene is to be

distilled continuously into a distillate product containing 90 mole % benzene and the
bottom product containing 5 mole % benzene. The fractional distillation column will
operate at approximately constant pressure of 1 atm. The reflux ratio is 2. How many
theoretical plates must the column have if the feed is introduced into the eighth plate?
Equilibrium data are:
 Given:
zF = 0.6
xD = 0.9
xW = 0.05
R=2
xD/ (R + 1) = 0.9/ (2 + 1) = 0.3
Feed is saturated liquid

Solution:
For saturated liquid feed, slope of 'q-line' is ∞.

Ntheo = 11 stages

10. Benzene-Toluene continuous distillation

F = 100 kmol/h
xF = 0.45
qF =1.19 (subcooled liquid)
Desired products:
xD=0.95, xB=0.1
R= LT/D = 4
How many stages are required?

Solution:
Ntheo = 7.6 stages (including reboiler)
Ntheo ≈ 8 stages