Multi-component Separations Involving High-Recovery or Sharp Product

Streams


Feed: Species Moles/hr NBP, TC
H
2



:Hydrogen(Component A) 18 -253
C
1_


:Methane(B) 5 -161
C
2
o


:Ethylene(C) 24 -104
C
2_
:Ethane(D) 15 -88
C
3
o

:Propylene(E) 14 -48
C
3
+
:Propane(F) 6 -42
C
4

:Heavies(G) 8 -1


Products: AB, C, D, E, F, G
1
(1) For sharp product streams, we normally use all-
sharp or high-recovery separation sequences to
separate the feed into products. In such sequences,
each component being separated appears almost
completely in one and only one product.

(2) Key component in an all-sharp separation are
commonly defined by:

The light key (LK) is the lightest component in the
bottoms and the heavy key (HK) is the heaviest
component in the overhead.

Definitions:
2

D
E
M
E
T
H
A
N
I
Z
E
R

C
1

S
P
L
I
T
T
E
R
D
E
P
R
O
P
A
N
I
Z
E
R

C
2

S
P
L
I
T
T
E
R



D
E
E
T
H
A
N
I
Z
E
R

Feed .
(A, B)
H
2
. C
1

(C, D)

"
2
2
2
.C C

(C)

2
2
C
(D)

"
2
C

4
"
1
2
1
"
2
2
2
. . . . C C C C C
(C, D, E, F, G)

4
"
1
2
1
. . C C C
(E, F, G) "
1
2
1
.C C

(E, F)
2
1
C
(E)

4
C
(G)
"
1
C
(F)
3
(sequence a) (sequence b)

A
(LK)B
(HK)C
D
E
F
G
A
B
(overhead)
C


B
C
D
E
F
G
(bottoms)
C
D


E
F
G
C
D

E
F

G
E
F
98 . 0 > =
B LK
d d
(component Bs recovery
fraction in the overhead)
98 . 0 > =
C HK
b b
(component Cs recovery
fraction in the bottoms)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D



E
F
G
A
B

C
D


E
F

G
C

D

E

F
4
How do you synthesize these two
industrial separation sequences ?

Which sequence is better ?

Does your ranking vary with feed
conditions ?
Questions:
5
Possible Sequences
for a 4-Component Feed
A
B
C
D
B
C
D
C
D
A B C
D
(Direct sequence)
Sequence (a) and (b)
A
B
C
D
B
C
D
B
C
A B
C D
6
Possible Sequences
for a 4-Component Feed
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
Sequence (c)
A C
B D
7
Possible Sequences
for a 4-Component Feed
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
B
C
A B
C
(Indirect sequence)
Sequence (d) and (e)
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
A
B
A
B C
D
D
8
FOR A FOUR-COMPONENT PROCESS FEED SUBGROUPS
Process Feed
First Separator
Feeds to Subsequent
Separators
Products
A
B
C
D
( )
decreasing volatility
A A
B B
C
B
B C
C
D C
D
(A)

(B)

(C)
(D)
(
(
)
)
(
(
(
)
)
)
9
FOR A FOUR-COMPONENT PROCESS FEED UNI QUE SPLITS
Splits for
First Separator
A
B
C
D
( )
A
B
C

A
B
C

B
C
D

B
C
D

( )

( )

( )

(
(
)
)
Splits for subsequent Separators
(
(
)
)
A
B
B
C
C
D
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
(
(
)
)
10

Sequences of Two-Product Separators
The Combinatorial Problem:
Total number of possible sequences for N
components(products) if only type of separator is
used (e. g. ordinary distillation)=




Number of unique feed and product groups =




Number of unique splits =
( ) | |
( )! 1 !
! 1 2

=
N N
N
S
N
( )
2
1 +
=
N N
G
( )( )
6
1 1 +
=
N N N
U
11
NUMBER OF SEPARATORS, SEQUENCES,
SUBGROUPS, AND UNIQUE SPLITS FOR SIMPLE
SEQUENCES USIGN ONE SIMPLE METHOD OF
SEPARATION
Number of S, G, U,
Number of Separators in Number of Number of Number of
Components a Sequence Sequences Subgroups Unique Splits

2 1 1 3 1
3 2 2 6 4
4 3 5 10 10
5 4 14 15 20
6 5 42 21 35
7 6 132 28 56
8 7 429 36 84
9 8 1430 45 120
10 9 4862 55 165
11 10 16796 66 220
12
n-Butylene Purification by Ordinary Distillation and Extractive Distillation
Feed: Relative Volatility*
Species Mole % (o)
I
(o)
II


A: Propane 1.47
B: 1-Butene 14.75
C: n-Butane 50.29
D: trans-Butene-2 15.62
E: cis-Butene-2 11.96
F: n-Pentane 5.90

*(o)
I
= adjacent relative volatility at 150 F for separation
method I, ordinary distillation
(o)
II
= adjacent relative volatility at 150 F for separation
method II, extractive distillation with furfural.
(C
4
H
3
OCHO)
Products: A, B, C, DE and F.
1.03
2.45
1.18


2.50
1.17(nC
4
/1-C
4
)
1.17(nC
4
/T-2-C
4
)
13
How do you get to following industrial separation sequence?
A
B
C
D
E
F
E
x
t
r
a
c
t
i
v
e

D
i
s
t
i
l
l
a
t
i
o
n

S
o
l
v
e
n
e
t

R
e
c
o
v
e
r
y

C
D
E
II
FEED
C
3

F
CDE
1-BUTENE COLUMN
AB
DEPROPANIZER
C
3

A
1-BUTENE
B
C+S
DE
+ Solvent
DE
2-BUTENES
C
n-BUTANE
RECIRCULATED
SOLVENT
DEOILER
EXTRACTIVE
DISTILLATION
COLUMN
SOLVENT STRIPPER
14
A
B
C
D
E
F

A
B

C
D
E
F
A

B


C
D
E

F
( )
II
C

D
E
15
Definition:
Extractive distillation is a form of distillation involving the
addition of a solvent which modifies the vapor-liquid equilibria
of the components to be separated such the separation becomes
easier. The added solvent has a volatility lower than the
components to be separated (i.e., the added solvent has a boiling
point higher than those of the components to be separated). Also,
it is usually introduced near the top of a column.



16
Examples of Extractive Distillation :

Mixture Solvent
1-Butene(-6.3 C) and 1,3
Buradiene(-4.41C) Acetonitrile(81.6 C)
Nitric Acid(83 C) and Water
(100C) Sulfuric Acid(300 C)
Meth1 Cyclohexane(100 C) and
Benzene(80.1 C) N-Formylmorpholine(243 C)
Isooctane(99.2 C) and doiuene
(110.6 C) Phenol(181.75 C)
Monomethyiamine(-6.3 C).
Dimethylamine(7.4 C) and
Trmethylamine(2.87 C) Water(100 C)
Methy1 Cyclohexane(100 C) and
Toluene(110.6 C) Phenol(181.75 C)
Acetone(56.2 C) and Methanol
(62.5 C) Water(100 C)
17
Example 1 Extractive Distillation
Normal Boiling Points, C
MCH 100.9
Toluene 110.6
Phenol Feed
(Solvent)
CH
3
C
6
H
5
: Toluene(T)
CH
3
C
6
H
11
: MCH(M)
181.75
e
x
t
r
a
c
t
i
v
e

d
i
s
t
i
l
l
a
t
i
o
n


MCH(M)
<

S
o
l
v
e
n
t


R
e
c
o
v
e
r
y


Toluene(T)
Phenol(P)
(
R
e
c
y
c
l
e
d


s
o
l
v
e
n
t
)

Phenol(P):C
6
H
5
OH
(Make-up
solvent)
C T

7 . 9 = A
18
19
If :
1. T type of two-product separators are allowed.
2. Any mass-separating agent is recovered for recycle in
the separator following the one into which it is introduced.

Then :


For example :
N = 4 components
Ordinary distillation only gives
S
N
= 5
Ordinary distillation plus extractive distillation with phenol gives

( ) | |
( )
1
! 1 !
! 1 2

=
N
N
T
N N
N
S
( )
( )
( ) = =
= =
=
= =

1 10
1 4
2 4862
1 4862
10
40 2 5
N
N
N
S
T S
N
S
20
HEURISTICS
Heuristics Used in Heuristic and Evolutionary Strategies for
Synthesis of Separation Sequences
Type Separators
Reference Applied Heuristics Used
Lockhart (1947) Distillation 1, 6
Harbert (1957) Distillation 2, 3
Rod & Marek (1959) Distillation 4
Heaven (1969) Distillation 1, 2, 3, 5
Rudd and his co- General 1, 2, 3, 6, 8
workers (1971-73) 12, 13
King (1971) and General 1, 2, 3, 7, 11
Thomp son and King
(1972a, b)
Stephanopoulos (1974), General 7 plus evol.
and Stephanopoulos rules
and Westerberg (1976)

21
HEURISTICS
Heuristics Used in Heuristic and Evolutionary Strategies for
Synthesis of Separation Sequences
Type Separators
Reference Applied Heuristics Used
Freshwater & Henry (1975) Distillation 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Mahaec (1976) and General 6, 11 plus evol.
Mahalec & Motard rules
(1977a, b)
Seader & Weaterberg General 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 12,
(1977) 13, 18 plus
evol. rules
Nath & Motard (1978) General 9, 10, 11, 14, 15
17, 19 plus
evol. Rules
Doukas & Luyben (1978) Distillation 1
Hartmann (1979) and General 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 16
Hartmann and 19
Hacker (1979)

22
Heuristic Rules.
1. Remove components one-by-one as overhead products.
2. Save the most difficult separation for last.
3. Favor 50-50 splits.
4. Sequence with the minimum total vapor flow.
5. Make high recovery fractions last.
6. Separate the more plentiful components first.
7. Choose the cheapest as the next separator.
8. Remove the thermally unstable and corrosive material early.
9. Perform least-tight separation first.
10. Favor sequences with the smallest product set.
11. Avoid separations using a mass-separating agent (MSA).
12. Remove a MSA from one of the products in another,
subsequent separation product.
23
Heuristic Rules
13. A separation method using a MSA cannot be used to isolate.
14. Favor distillation.
15. Separate first the components which might undergo undesirable
reactions.
16. Set splits fractions of the key components to pre-specified values.
17. Avoid extreme processing conditions.
18. Favor ambient operating pressure.

Nishida, Stephanopoulos, Westerberg(1980)
24
Heuristic Synthesis of High-Recovery or Sharp, Multi-component
Separation Sequences (Nadgir and Liu, 1983; Liu, 1987)

Classification of Heuristics

Method Heuristics (M Heuristics) :
Favor the use of certain separation methods under given problem specifications

Design Heuristics (D Heuristics) :
Favor specific separation sequences with certain desirable properties

Species Heuristics (S Heuristics) :
Based on the property differences between the species to be separated

Composition Heuristics (C Heuristics) :
Related to the effects of feed and product composition on separation costs



Nadgir, V. M. and Y. A. Liu, Studies in Chemical Process Design and Synthesis. 5. A
Simple Heuristic Method for Systematic Synthesis of Initial Sequences for
Multi-component Separation, AIChE Journal, 29, 926-934 (1983).

Liu, Y. A., Process Synthesis: Some Simple and Practical Developments, Chapter 6,
in Recent Development in Chemical Process and Plant Design, Y. A. Mebee, Jr. and W.
R. Epperly, editor, Wiley, NY (1987), pp. 147-168 and 245-260.


25
A Simple, Rank-Ordered, Heuristic Method
(Nadgir and Liu, 1983)

a. Decide the separation method to be used :
M1: Favor ordinary distillation
M2: Avoid vacuum and refrigeration


b. Identify the forbidden splits, and essential first and last separations :
D1: Favor smallest product set
S1: Remove corrosive and hazardous components first (also : reactive
component, monomer)
S2: Perform difficult separations last
c. Synthesize the initial separation sequences :
C1: Remove most plentiful component first
C2: Favor 50/50 split
d. Remove products and recycle stream as distillates.
If not possible, take vapor from reboiler.
26

Rank-Ordered Heuristics:

(1) The heuristics are to be applied one by one in the given order.
Higher-ranked heuristics appear first.

(2) If any heuristic is not important in, or not applicable to, the
synthesis problem, the next one in the method is considered.

(3) If two heuristics give different recommendations regarding the
next split, we should follow the guideline suggested by the
higher-ranked heuristic.
For example, heuristic C1 overrules heuristic C2.
27
Heuristic M1 (Favor Ordinary Distillation)
a. All other things being equal, favor separation methods using only
energy separating agent (e.g., ordinary distillation), and avoid
using separation methods (e. g., extractive distillation) which
require the use of species not normally present in the processing,
i. e., the mass separating agent (MSA).
b. If the separation factor or relative volatility of the key components
< 1.10, then the use of ordinary distillation is not
recommended. or
c. An MSA may be used provided it improves .
d. When an MSA is used, remove it immediately follow the separator
into which it is used. In other words, always try to remove MSA early.
HK LK ,
o
HK LK ,
o
C T

10 < A
28
Heuristic M1 (Favor Ordinary Distillation)
A LLK Light Component
B LK Light Key (e. g. 98% of B appears in overhead)
C HK Heavy Key (e. g., 97% of C appears in bottoms)
D HHK
E HHK
Increasing
Normal
Boiling
Point

BC
o or
HK LK ,
o
Heavy
Components
29
M
i
n
i
m
u
m

o

r
e
q
u
i
r
e
d

f
o
r

c
o
n
s
i
d
e
r
a
t
i
o
n


o
f

e
x
t
r
a
c
t
i
v
e

d
i
s
t
i
l
l
a
t
i
o
n

o
r

M
i
n
i
m
u
m

|

r
e
q
u
i
r
e
d

f
o
r

c
o
n
s
i
d
e
r
a
t
i
o
n

o
f

L
/
L

e
x
t
r
a
c
t
i
o
n


Sounders, M., CEP, 60 (2) , 75-82 (1964)
30
Add nonvolatile component to modify s
Example 2 Extractive distillation.
B HNO
3

S
HNO
3

B
C
H
2
O
C
H
2
O
S
H
2
SO
4

H
2
O
C
S
H
2
SO
4

e. g., B = HNO
3

C = H
2
O
S = H
2
SO
4

31
Add component that forms an azeotrope
with one or more of feed component
Example 3 Azeotropic Distillation.
e. g., B = Ethanol
C = Water
S = Benzene
volatile
S-rich
C-rich
recycle
BCS ternary heterogeneous
azeotrope
B+C azeotrope
C
water
B
C
B
ethanol
B+C
azeotrop
a
32
Extraction
B

B+S
B+C
C
C(+B)


B+C

C+S
(+B)


S
B S






C

a B/C distillation
33
Reactive Distillation
Add reactive component to modify s
C
S B
B
C
C+S
e. g., B, C = xylenes: o = 1.03
S = organometallic: B, CS: o 30

B : meta-xylene
C : para-xylene
S : sodium cumene
34
Heuristic M2 (Avoid Vacuum and Refrigeration)
a. All other things being equal, avoid excursions in temperature
and pressure, but aim high rather than low.

b. If vacuum operation of ordinary distillation is required, liquid-
liquid extraction with various solvents might be considered.

c. If refrigeration is required, cheaper alternatives to distillation
such as absorption might be considered.
35

Relative Costs of Cooling and Heating at Different
Temperatures (Berthouex and Rudd, 1977)
Room
temperature
Cooling water
Ammonia refrigerant
Liquid nitrogen
$
/
K

c
a
l

Temperature
Low pressure
steam
High pressure
steam
Fuel oil
Burner
Heating
Cooling
36
-100
-200 0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Atmospheric boiling point, C

Recommended Ranges of Pressure and Temperature
for Separation Operations (Souders, 1964)

Favor: High P and Low T
Low P and High T"
Avoid:
High P and T
or
Low P and T"
P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

o
f

o
p
e
r
a
t
i
o
n
,

a
t
m

100
10
1.0
0.1
37
Heuristic D1 (Favor Smallest Product Set)
When multi-component products are specified, favor sequences
that yield these products directly or with a minimum of blending,
unless separation factors or relative volatilities are appreciably
lower than those for a sequence which requires additional
separators and blending.
38
An Example for Heuristic D1
Feed :
Normal Boiling
Species Mole% Point, TC
A 25 140
B 25 160
C 25 180
D 25 200
20
20
20
T A
39
An Example for Heuristic D1
Good Sequences for Different Product Sets :
a. Products : A, BC, D



b. Products : A, C, BD
A
B
C
D
A

B
C
D
B


D
Product Set for Separation:
(A, BC, D)
A
B
C
D
A

B
C
D
B

C
D
C

D
BD
Product Set for Separation:
(A, B, C, D)
C
40
Heuristic S1
Remove corrosive and hazardous components first.
(Essential first separations)
also reactive components and monomers
Heuristic S2 (Perform Difficult Separations Last)
a. All other things being equal, perform the difficult separations
last,

b. Separations where the relative volatility of the key components
is close to unity should be performed in the absence of non-key
components.
10 . 1 ~ 05 . 1
,
~
HK LK
o
(Essential last separations)
C T

10 ~ A
41
Heuristic C1 (Remove Most Plentiful Component First)
A product composing a large fraction of the feed should be
separated first, provided that the separation factor or relative
volatility is reasonable for the separation.
hr
moles b 1
70A
20B
10C
A 70

B 20
C 10
B
C

70A
20B
10C
A 70
B 20


C 10
A
B
C T

15 = A
C T

15 = A
42
An Example for Heuristics S1, S2 and C1 :
[See Rudd, et al. (1973), pp.197-199, Problem 9]
Industrial Sequence for Separating Chlorination and
Alkylation Products in the Manufacture of Detergent

I. Reactions :

(Chlorination)



(Alkylation)
HCl Cl H C Cl H C + +
25 12 2 24 12
(kerosene) (chlorine) (keryl (hydrogen
chloride) chloride)
C1
2
H
5
Cl + C
12
H
25
- + HCl
(keryl (benzene) (keryl benzene) (hydrogen
chloride) chloride)
43
An Example for Heuristics S1, S2 and C1 :
[See Rudd, et al. (1973), pp.197-199, Problem 9]
Industrial Sequence for Separating Chlorination and
Alkylation Products in the Manufacture of Detergent

II. Reaction Products to be Separated into Pure Components

Normal Boiling
Species Mole/hr Point, TC T
A: HCl 1 -85
B: Benzene 5 80
C: Kerosene 1 214
D: Keryl Benzene 1 250
E: Heavy Ends
Relative
Flow Rate
( )
165
134
36
A
44
An Example for Heuristics S1, S2 and C1 :
[See Rudd, et al. (1973), pp.197-199, Problem 9]
III. Key Questions :
a. Species: Any corrosive and hazardous components?
Split A/BCD (essential first separation)

b. : Any difficult separations?
Split C/D (essential last separation)

c. C1: Any plentiful components?
Split B/CD (desirable early separation)
T A
45
An Example for Heuristics S1, S2 and C1 :
[See Rudd, et al. (1973), pp.197-199, Problem 9]

IV. Initial Separation Sequence
A
B
C
D
A(HCl)


B
C
D
B(Benzene)

C
D
C(Kerosene)
D(Keryl Benzene)
46
B
C D
47
Heuristic C2 (Favor 50/50 Split)
If the component compositions do not vary widely, sequences
which give a more nearly 50/50 or equimolal split of the feed
between the distillate (D) and bottoms (B) products should be
favored, provided that the separation factor or relative volatility
is reasonable for the split.
F(Feed)
100
hr
moles b 1
D(overhead) 50, 40, 5



B(Bottoms) 50, 60, 95
D
B
or
B
D
48
Coefficient of Ease of Separation (CES)
If it is difficult to judge which split is closest to 50/50
and with a reasonable separator factor or relative
volatility, then perform the split with the value
of the coefficient of ease of separation (CES)
highest
] ) ( ) log[(
1
HK LK
d
b
b
d
f CES A =
Where or
D B f / = B D/ Such that 1 s f
T A = A
or 100 ) 1 ( o
49
Fractional recoveries of light-key(LK) and heavy-key(HK)
components in sharp or high-recovery separations :
Overhead Bottoms
LK d
LK
> 0.98 b
LK
s 0.02
HK d
HK
s 0.02 b
HK
> 0.98
As an approximation,


To simplify the calculations of CES in sharp separations, we may
use
02 . 0
98 . 0
~
|
.
|

\
|
LK
b
d
02 . 0
98 . 0
~
|
.
|

\
|
HK
d
b
A = f CES
50
More on CES (Coefficient of Ease of Separation)
S
e
p
a
r
a
t
o
r

Feed
100
hr
moles
hr
moles
hr
moles
Overhead, D
e. g., 70, 60, 50, 30, 20
Bottoms, B
e. g., 30, 40, 50, 70, 80
Split ratio
D/B or B/D
1
80
20
,
70
30
,
50
50
,
60
40
,
70
30
s


B/D D/B
(Boiling-Point Difference) or ( ) 1 1
,

HK LK
o o
CES
T
D
B
or
B
D
A
|
.
|

\
|
( ) 1
|
.
|

\
|
o
D
B
or
B
D
Close to one, 50/50 split
The larger the or (o-1), the easier the separation
T A
T A
51
Examples of the Synthesis of Sharp or High-Recovery Separation Sequences
Example 1: Multicomponent Distillation Sequencing for
Thermal Cracking of Hvdrocarbons

1. Feed
Normal Boiling
Species Moles/Hr Point, T C T CES
A: Hydrogen 18 -253
B: Methane 5 -161
C: Ethylene 24 -104
D: Ethane 15 -88
E: Propylene 14 -48
F: Propane 6 -42
G: Heavies 8 -1

2. Products : C, D, E, F and G.

3. Key Questions :
a. Products: Any multi-component products ?
b. Species: Any corrosive and hazardous components ?
c. T: Any difficult separations ?
d. Moles/hr: Any plentiful components ?
e. CES: Any easy and balanced (50/50) splits ?
AB,
72
92 23.0
57
14.6
40
1.1
41 4.0
19.6
18.1
6
16
Example:
CES
A/BCDEFG
=
0 . 23 92
72
18
= = A |
.
|

\
|
T
D
B
or
B
D
A
52

1. M1 (favor ordinary distillation) and M2 (avoid vacuum and refrigeration):
Use ordinary distillation with refrigeration at high pressure.

2. D1 (favor smallest product set):
Avoid splitting AB (a single product).

3. S1 (remove corrosive and hazardous components first):
Not applicable.

4. S2 (perform difficult separations last):
Split C/D and E/F last,

5. C1 (remove most plentiful components first):
Not applicable.

6. C2 (favor 50/50 split):
Split AB/CDEFG with the largest CES = 19.6
and AB as a single product.
C T
C T
F E
D C

16
6
/
/
= A
= A
53
CES
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B




C
D
E
F
G
19.6
18.1
Initial
Separation
Sequence
54
For separating CDEFG, splits C/D and E/F are performed last
so that the remaining splits to be chosen are CD/EFG and
CDEF/G. Split CD/EFG is done first since it has a larger CES
of 28.7:
CD/EFG CDEF/G
f 28/39 8/59
T 40 41
CES 28.7 5.6
A
55
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B



C
D
E
F
G
E
F
G
C
D
C
D
E
F
E
F
G
Difficult Split
Difficult Split
24 C
15 D
14 E
6 F
8 G
16C
6C
? CD/EFG
? CDEF/G
This sequence performs splits C/D and E/F last are it is exactly the
same as the one being practiced in the industry.
56
The second sequence can be obtained by making the split
ABCD/EFG first, which has the second largest CES of 18.1.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D


E
F
G
Single product
?
16C(last)
6C(last)
57
Another Initial Separation Sequence :
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D


E
F
G
A
B







G
C
D
C
D
16C
E
F
E
F
6C
Last Separations
CES
=19.6
(large)

CES
=18.1
(2nd largest)
[See King, C. J., Separation Processes,
2nd Edition, McGraw Hill (1980), P.718]
58
Example 2: Multi-component Distillation Sequencing for n-Butylene
Purification by Ordinary and Extractive Distillation.

1. Feed:
Relative Volatility*
Species Mole %
(o)
I
(o)
II
(CES)
I
(CES)
II
A: Propane 1.47
B: 1-Butene 14.75
C: n-Butane
D: trans-Butene-2 15.62
E: cis-Butene-2 11.96
F: n-Pentane 5.90

*
(o)
I = adjacent relative volatility at 150 F for separation method I, ordinary
distillation

(o)
II = adjacent relative volatility at 150 F for separation method II, ordinary
extractive distillation with furfural (C
4
H
3
OCHO)

2. Products: A, B, C, and F.
(Example)
(CES)
I,A/BCDEF =


(CES)
II,ABCDE/F =
( ) ( ) 163 . 2 100 1 45 . 2
53 . 98
47 . 1
100 1
2
= = o
B
D
( ) ( ) 404 . 9 100 1 50 . 2
50 . 94
90 . 5
100 1
2
= = |
.
|

\
|
d
D
B
or
B
D
2.45 2.163
1.18 1.17 3.29
1.70 1.510 35.25

2.50
50.30
1.03
3.485
9.404
DE
59
3. Key Question :
a. Products: Any multi-component products ?
b. Species: Any corrosive and hazardous components ?
c. Mole%: Any plentiful components ?
d. Relative Volatilities: Any difficult separations ?
e. (CES): Any easy and balanced (50/50) splits ?
60

1. M1 (favor ordinary distillation):
Use extractive distillation for C/D and ordinary distillation for all other splits.
2. M2 (avoid vacuum and refrigeration):
Use refrigeration at high pressure.
3. D1 (favor smallest product set):
Avoid splitting DE (a single product)
4. S1 (remove corrosive and hazardous components first):
Not applicable.
5. S2 (perform difficult separations last):
Split C/DE last (difficult extractive distillation), so that the added solvent
(furfural) can be recovered at the end without having to worry about its
presence as a contaminant in earlier splits.
6. C1 (remove most plentiful components first):
C(50.30 mole %) dominates the feed, but it is not separated first due to S2.
Note: Heuristics are ranked in their relative importance according to their given order, e. g.,
Heuristic S2 overrides Heuristic C1
61
Separation Sequencing for Example 2

7. C2 (favor 50/50 split):
(a) Split ABCDE/F first with the largest (b)Favor AB/CDE over A/BCDE
(CES)
I
= 9.404 (Split C/DE last)
(Split C/DE last, avoid splitting DE) A/BCDE AB/CDE
f 1.47/92.63 16.22/77.88
(o-1)100 145 18
CES 2.301 3.749
A
B
C
D
E
F
A 1.47
B 14.75
C 50.30
D 15.62
E 11.95

F
Initial
Separation
Sequence
A
B
C
D
E
F
A
B
C
D
E

F
A
B
II
E
D
C
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
A
B
C

D
E
62