SAMPLE PROBLEM #5a:

A feed containing 38wt% Acetone

and 62wt% water is to be sent at 250
kg/hr to an extraction column to recover
the Acetone using 1,1,2-trichloroethane
(C2H3Cl3) as the solvent. 85.5 kg/hr of
pure (C2H3Cl3) is used as the solvent
stream. We desire a raffinate product that
contains 8% Acetone. A.) Find the exiting
extract concentration and the flow rate.
B.) Find the number of equilibrium stages
required for this separation.
 G I V E N:

85.5 kg/ h
yCN+1 = 1.00
V2
V1 VN+1
SLE 1 SLE 2 N
L0 LN
L1
250 kg/ h xAN = 0.08
xA0 = 0.38
xB0 = 0.62
REQUIRED:

A.) V1 and its composition

(wt% Acetone, wt% C2H3Cl3, wt% water)
B.) Number of stages
SOLUTION:

Total balance:
L0 + VN+1 = LN + V1
where: ∑ = LN + V1
L0 + VN+1 = ∑
250 + 85.5 = ∑
∑ = 335.5 kg/h
SOLUTION (cont.):

Acetone balance in passing streams:

xA0L0 + yAN+1VN+1 = ∑(xA∑)

250(0.38) + 85.5 (0) = 335.5 (xA∑)

xA∑ = 0.28
 VN+1

V1

LN L0
From the graph:
YA1 = 0.44
Equation 1:
∑ = LN + V1
335.5 kg/hr = LN + V1
Equation 2:
Acetone balance in the Leaving streams

XA∑ ∑ = XANLN + YA1V1

0.28(335.5) = 0.08LN + 0.44 V1
Using Equation 1 and 2, solve for LN and V1…

V1 = 186.39kg/hr
LN = 149.11kg/hr
FINAL ANSWERS:

A.Flow rate of the extract:

V1 = 186.39 kg/hr
Concentration of the extract:
44wt% Acetone
52wt% C2H3Cl3
4 wt% Water
B. Number of equilibrium stages
N=3