CHE.

210 Separation Processes-ꟾ

Complex Engineering Problem

Submitted to:

Dr. Azam Saeed

Submitted by:

Ali Hasnain (2021-CH-86)

Department of Chemical Engineering, UET

Lahore
2021-CH-86 Complex Engineering
Problem

Complex Engineering Problem

Consider a system for which you have been given the ternary diagram. Acetone (A= solute), MIK
(S= solvent (100% pure)), Water (C = carrier). The feed flow-rate is 157 kg/hr and composition is
43% of Acetone and 57% of Carrier.

1. Calculate the flow and composition of the extract and raffinate from:
 1st cross-current stage, using a pure solvent flow of 70 kg/hr.
 2nd cross-current stage, with an additional solvent flow of 30 kg/hr.
2. For the overall 2-stage cross-current system, find the:
 overall recovery
 overall concentration of combined extract streams

The objective now is to have a counter-current system so the raffinate leaving in the Nth stage,
RN has yR = 0.015

3. Show the construction on the ternary diagram for the number of equilibrium stages to achieve
yRN = 0.015, given a solvent flow of 28 kg/hr.

4. Calculate the overall recovery and concentration of the extract stream.

5. Plot on the same axes the concentrations in the extract and raffinate streams.

6. Repeat the procedure using two counter current flow stages and find the overall recovery and
concentration of the extract. Compare and discuss the results. Based on results, propose which
operation (cross flow or counter flow) is suitable for the recovery of Acetone.

Solution:

Acetone (A= solute)

MIK (S= solvent (100% pure))

Water (C = carrier).

Feed flow rate = F = 157 kg/hr.

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑑 (𝑥𝐹) = 43%

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑑 (𝑥𝐹) = 57%

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑑 (𝑥𝐹) = 0

𝑃𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 − 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 𝑆1 = 70kg/ℎ𝑟

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2021-CH-86 Complex Engineering
Problem

Amount of Acetone in feed = 67.51 kg/hr.

Amount of water Feed= 89.49 kg/hr.

Composition after mixing:

𝑀𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 157 + 70 = 227 kg/hr.

0.43∗157
Composition of acetone in mixture ¿ =0.30
227

0.57∗157
Composition of water in mixture¿ =0.39
227
XM, s = 70/227=0.31

After First Cross Flow Operation:

Extract 1:
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡 1 = 𝑥𝐸1, 𝑆 = 0.57

𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑥𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡 1 = 𝑥𝐸1, 𝑊 = 0.07

𝐴𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡 1 = 𝑥𝐸1, A = 0.36

Raffinate 1:
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 1 = 𝑥𝑅1, 𝑆 = 0.03

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2021-CH-86 Complex Engineering
Problem

𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 1 = 𝑥𝑅1, 𝑊 = 0.72

𝐴𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 1 = 𝑥𝑅1, A= 0.25

Apply W balance:
0.07E1+0.72R1 = 89.49 --------- A

Apply Acetone balance:

0.36E1 + 0.25R1 = 67.51 ----------- B

Solving equations simultaneously we get,

E1= 108.54 kg/hr.

R1= 113.73 kg/hr.

For Second Cross-flow operation:

𝑃𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 − 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 𝑆2 = 30 kg/ℎ𝑟

Overall balance:

M2 = R1+S2= 113.73 + 30 = 143.73 kg/hr.

Component compositions:

𝐴 𝑖𝑛 𝑀2 = (113.73*0.25)/143.73 = 0.20%
𝑆 𝑖𝑛 𝑀2 = {(0.03*113.73) +30} / 143.73 = 0.23%

𝑊 𝑖𝑛 𝑀2 = (0.72*113.73)/143.73 = 0.57%

Extract 2:
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡 2 = 𝑥𝐸2, 𝑆 = 0.68
𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑥𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡 2 = 𝑥𝐸2, 𝑊 = 0.05
𝐴𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡 2 = 𝑥𝐸2, A = 0.27

Raffinate 2:
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 2 = 𝑥𝑅2, 𝑆 = 0.02
𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 2 = 𝑥𝑅2, 𝑊 = 0.81
𝐴𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 2 = 𝑥𝑅2, A= 0.17

Apply W balance:
0.05E2+0.81R2 = (0.57*143.73) =81.9--------- C

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2021-CH-86 Complex Engineering
Problem

Apply Acetone balance:

0.27E2 + 0.17R2 = (0.20*143.73) = 28.8 ----------- D

Solving equations simultaneously and we get,

E2= 44.74 kg/hr.

R2= 98.35 kg/hr.

Overall Recovery after two cross-flow operations/stages:

𝑥 𝑅𝑁 𝑅 𝑁 0 .17 ∗ 98.3
1− =1− = 0 .75 = 75 %
𝑥𝑓 𝐹 0 .43 ∗ 157

Concentration of overall extract:

For first stage:
Solute leaving E 1 0.36∗108.54
= = 0.2554
Total Extract 108.54+ 44.47

For second stage:

Solute leaving ∈E 2 0.27∗44.47
= = 0.0784
Total Extract 108.54+ 44.47

Total/overall concentration of the extract:

Overall concentration of extract after two cross flow stages = 0.2554 + 0.0784 = 0.334

= 33.4%

Counter-current System:
Using Hunter-Nash Method LLE;
𝑁𝑜𝑤 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡

𝑦𝑅𝑁 = 𝑥𝑅𝑁 = 0.015 = 1.5%

Acetone = A = solute, MIK = S = Solvent (100% pure), Water = Carrier = C

Feed flow rate = F = 157 kg/hr.

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑑 (𝑥F) = 43%

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2021-CH-86 Complex Engineering
Problem

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑑 (𝑥F) = 57%

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑑 (𝑥F) = 0

𝑃𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 counter − 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = 𝑆 = 28 kg/hr.

Amount of Acetone in feed = 67.51 kg/hr.

Amount of Water in feed = 89.49 kg/hr.

Composition after mixing:

𝑀𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 157 + 28 = 185 kg/hr.

0.43∗157
Composition of acetone in mixture ¿ =0.365
185

0.57∗157
Composition of water in mixture¿ =0.484
185
𝑥M = 28/185 =0.15

Feed point

Mixing point

Equation:

𝐹 + 𝑆 = 𝑀 = 𝐸1+ 𝑅

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2021-CH-86 Complex Engineering
Problem

ISSUE:
As the solvent flow rate (28 kg/hr.) is very low as compared to feed (157 kg/hr.). This system
cannot be solved for counter-current because Extract 01 is very close to Plait Point (P) and we
cannot draw tie line. Raffinate and extract phases are on the one/same side.

SOLUTION:
We have to use greater amount/flow rate of solvent than suggested/given flow rate of (28 kg/hr.).
Then we are able to solve for counter-current. THANKS!