OnLine Lecture 13

CALCULATION OF THE NUMBER OF THEORETICAL STAGES

Co-current contact with partially miscible solvents

For the general case where the solvents are partially miscible, the feed solution F is brought into
contact with the selective solvent S, to give raffinate R1 and an extract E1. The addition of
streams F and S is shown on the triangular diagram in Figure 13.9, by the point M, where
FM/MS = S/F. This mixture M breaks down to give extract E1 and raffinate R1, at opposite ends
of a tie line through M.
If a second stage is used, then the raffinate R1 is treated with a further quantity of solvent
S, and extract E2 and raffinate R2 are obtained as shown in the same figure.

The complete process consists in carrying out the extraction, and recovering the solvent from the
raffinate and extract obtained. Thus, for a single-stage system as shown in Figure 13.10, the
raffinate R is passed into the distillation column where it is separated to give purified raffinate R′
and solvent SR. The extract E is passed to another distillation unit to give extract E′ and a solvent
stream SE. These recovered solvents SR and SE are pumped back to the extraction process as
shown.
This cycle may be represented on a diagram, as shown in Figure 13.11, by showing the removal
of SR from R to give composition R′, and the removal of SE from E to give composition E′. It has
been assumed in this case that perfect separation is obtained in the stills, so that pure solvent is
obtained in the streams SR and SE. It may be noted that, when ES is a tangent to the binodal
curve, then the maximum concentration of solute B in the extract E′ is obtained. It also follows
that E′ then represents the maximum possible concentration of B in the feed. Sufficient solvent S
must be used to bring the mixture M within the two-phase area.

Co-current contact with immiscible solvents

In this case, which is illustrated in Figure 13.12, triangular diagrams are not required. If the
initial solution contains a mass A of solvent A with a mass ratio Xf of solute, then the selective
solvent to be added will be a mass S of solvent S. On mixing and separating, a raffinate is
obtained with the solvent A containing a mass ratio X1 of solute, and an extract with the solvent
S containing a mass ratio Y1 of solute. A material balance on the solute gives:

This process may be illustrated by allowing the point F to represent the feed solution and
drawing a line FE1, of slope −(A/S)1, to cut the equilibrium curve at E1. This then gives
composition Y1 of the extract and X1 of the raffinate. If a further stage is then carried out by the
addition of solvent S to the stream AX1, then point E2 is found on the equilibrium curve by
drawing GE2 of slope −(A/S)2. Point E2 then gives the compositions X2 and Y2 of the final
extract and raffinate. This system may be used for any number of stages, with any assumed
variation in the proportion of solvent S to raffinate from stage to stage. If the distribution law is
followed, then the equilibrium curve becomes a straight line given by Y = mX. The material
balance on the solute may then be rewritten as:
If a further mass S of S is added to raffinate AX1 to give an extract of composition Y2 and a
raffinate X2 in a second stage, then:

Countercurrent Contact with Immiscible Solvents

If a series of mixing and separating vessels is arranged so that the flow is countercurrent, then the
conditions of flow may be represented as shown in Figure 13.13, where each circle corresponds
to a mixer and a separator. The initial solution F of the solute B in solvent A is fed to the first
unit and leaves as raffinate R1. This stream passes through the units and leaves from the nth unit
as stream Rn. The fresh solvent S enters the nth unit and passes in the reverse direction through
the units, leaving as extract E1.
The following definitions may be made:
X = the ratio of solute to solvent in the raffinate streams, and
Y = the ratio of the solute to solvent in the extract streams.
If the two solvents are immiscible, the solvent in the raffinate streams remains as A, and the
added solvent in the extract streams as S. The material balances for the solute may then be
written as

This is the equation of a straight line of slope A/S, known as the operating line, which passes
through the points (Xf , Y1) and (Xn, Yn+1). In Figure 13.14, the equilibrium relation, Yn against
Xn, and the operating line are drawn in, and the number of stages required to pass from Xf to Xn
is found by drawing in steps between the operating line and the equilibrium curve. In this
example, four stages are required, and (Xn, Yn+1) corresponds to (X4, Y5). It may be noted that
the operating line connects the compositions of the raffinate stream leaving and the fresh solvent
stream entering a unit, Xn and Yn+1, respectively.
Problem 13.1
160 cm3/s of a solvent S is used to treat 400cm3/s of a 10 per cent by mass solution of A in B, in
a three-stage countercurrent multiple-contact liquid–liquid extraction plant. What is the
composition of the final raffinate?

Using the same total amount of solvent, evenly distributed between the three stages, what would
be the composition of the final raffinate if the equipment were used in a simple multiple-contact
arrangement?

Equilibrium data:

SOLUTION