Sample Problem #6:

A feed containing 38 wt % acetic acid and 62

wt % water is to be sent at 250 kg/hr to an
extraction column to recover the acetic acid using
Isopropyl ether as the solvent. 85.5 kg/hr of pure
Isopropyl ether is used as the solvent stream. We
desire a raffinate product that contains 8 % acetic
acid. Solve this problem on a right – triangular
diagram given. (a) Find the exiting extract
concentration and flow rate. (b) Find the number
of equilibrium Stages required for this separation.
Given:
= 85.5 Kg/hr
V1 VN+1

Lo LN
= 250 Kg/hr
xA = 0.08
xA = 0.38
xB = 0.62
Solution:
OMB:
Lo + VN+1 = M
M = 250 + 85.5
M = 335.5
A Balance:
LoxA + VN+1yA = MxAM
250(0.38) + 85.5(0) = 335.5(xAM)
xAM = 0.28316
 VN+1 1

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6
V1
0.5

0.4 M

xAM
0.3

0.2

LN 0.1
Lo
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
VN+1 1

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6 V2
V1
0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

L1
LN 0.1
Lo
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
VN+1 1

0.9

0.8
V3
0.7

0.6 V2
V1
0.5

0.4

0.3

L2
0.2

L1
LN 0.1
Lo
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
VN+1 1

0.9
V4
0.8
V3
0.7

0.6 V2
V1
0.5

0.4

0.3

L2
L3 0.2

L1
LN 0.1
Lo
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
VN+1 1

0.9
V4
0.8
V3
0.7

0.6 V2
V1
0.5

0.4
3
0.3
2
L3 0.2 1 L2
L1
LN 0.1
Lo
0
L4 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

No. of Stages
= 3.5
From the Graph:
No. of Stages = 3.5
Exiting Extract Concentration:
XA = 0.43
XB = 0.10
XC = 0.47
Flow Rate of V1:
V1 + LN = M
335.5 = V1 + LN 1

A Balance:
V1yA + LNxA = MxAM
V1(0.43) + LN(0.08) = 335.5(0.28316)
0.43V1 + 0.08LN = 95.00018 2
Solving Eq’ns 1 & 2 simultaneously:

V1 = 194.74 Kg / hr