Lec 7-Simple Distillation

SEPARATION PROCESS I
Lecture 7
Simple distillation methods
Last Updated:Monday, March 15, 2021

Learning objectives and outcome
To introduce the students to the single stage types of continuous

distillation.
On completion of this topic, students must be able to calculate

the parameters relating to a single stage distillation, whether flash
type or equilibrium contact.
Last Updated: Last Updated:Monday, March 15, 2021 © I-Station Solutions Sdn Bhd 2
Relative Volatility of Vapor-Liquid System
Relative volatility is the measurement of a separation

Note that α>1 for separation to take place
K-factor
•The
vapour-liquid equilibria for a mixture are described by
distribution coefficients or K-factors of material i in the mixture
as:
Assuming that Raoult’s and Dalton’s law hold we can rearrange

the equation.
Vapor pressure
Total pressure
K-factor
• The K factor depends on operating
pressure and temperature.
• The relative difference between the
K factors in a mixture vary little
with temperature and pressure.
• K-factors can be found tabulated
and in diagrams.
Relative volatility and K-factor
The relative volatility is the quotient between two K-factors:

• 𝑦𝐴
𝑥𝐴 𝐾 𝐴
𝛼 𝐴𝐵 =
α is approximately constant𝑦
=
over limited temperature
𝐵 𝐾 range,𝐵
like the one used in separation.
𝑥𝐵
Distillation
1. Distillation is defined as a process in which a liquid or vapour mixture of two or

more substances is separated into its component fractions of desired purity, by the
application of heat. This process utilizes the differences in the vapour pressure of
the components to produce the separation.
2. The vapour of a boiling mixture will be richer in the components that have lower
boiling points.
3. When this vapour is cooled and condensed, the condensate will contain more
volatile components.
4. The original mixture will contain more of the less volatile material.
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Distillation
1. The liquid mixture will have different boiling point characteristics

depending on the concentrations of the components present.
2. Therefore, distillation processes depends on the vapour pressure
characteristics of liquid mixtures.
3. Distillation occurs because of the differences in the volatility of the
components in the liquid mixture.
4. If the relative volatility between the 2 components is very close to 1, they
have similar vapour pressures and hence, it will be difficult to separate the
two components by distillation.

Distillation
Applications:
• The separation process in chemical and petroleum industries.

• Pharmaceutical, chemical, food, and alcohol industries.
• Distillation is used in refineries for fractionating crude oil to produce many
chemicals.
• It is used for the distillation of wine to cognac and spirits.

Type of distillations
1. Two main types:

I. Single stage distillation: Involves production of a vapor by boiling
the liquid mixture to be separated in a single stage and recovering
and condensing the vapor. No liquid is allowed to return to the
single-stage to contact the rising vapors.
II. Multistage distillation (Fractional distillation/distillation with
reflux/rectification): Involves returning of a portion of the condensate
to the still. The vapor rise through a series of stages or trays, and part
of the condensate flows downward through the series of stages or
trays countercurrent to the vapor.
Single Stage Distillation ( Not involved rectification)
1. Important distillation types that occur:

 Equilibrium or flash distillation
 Simple batch or differential distillation
 Simple Steam distillation
Single stage distillation- Flash distillation
•Inequilibrium or flash distillation, which occurs in a single

stage, a liquid mixture is partially vaporized.
•The vapor is allowed to come to equilibrium with the liquid, and
the vapor and liquid phases are then separated. This can be done
batch wise or continuously.
Flash distillation
•MB
on component A:
We introduce ƒ as the mole fraction of the feed vaporized
Rearranging =>Operating line
Flash distillation
•The
fraction ƒ is not fixed but can be determined by solving the
energy balance for the distillation column:
=feed enthalpy, and =vapor and liquid enthalpy

Rearranging,
That means that the fraction ƒ is a function of initial and final

states and the heat added.
Flash distillation
•After
obtaining ƒ from the energy balance we are still left with
two unknowns in the material balance:
A second relation is needed to find y and x. Such a relation is

given by an equilibrium curve (xy diagram) or relative volatility.
Example 1
A mixture of 50 mol% of Benzene and 50 mol. Toluene

is subjected to flash distillation at a separator pressure
of 1 atm. The incoming liquid is heated to a temperature
that will cause 40 % of the feed to flash.
(a) What are the compositions of the vapour and liquid
leaving the flash chamber?
(b) What is the required feed temperature?
Example 1
Example 1
•Operating
line
When =0.4,
At (0.5, 0.5), (0.4, y),

Þ y=0.65
Þ Plot the operating line from feed point
Example 1
Example 1
𝑇 𝐹 =95 ℃
Example 2
A mixture of 50 mol% of A and 50 mol% B is subjected to flash

distillation. The Txy and xy diagrams are supplied.
Determine:
The temperature in separator and composition of products as a
function of ƒ.
slope Concentration A Temperature
ƒ -(1-ƒ)/ƒ x y °C
0 ∞
0.2 -4
0.4 -1.5
0.6 -0.67
0.8 -0.25
1.0 0
Xy graph plus slope lines
Example
Batch distillation
In simple batch (no reflux) the liquid is put into a heated kettle.
The liquid is heated slowly and the vapour removed and

condensed.
The concentration of the volatile component will decrease as the

distillation progresses.
Batch setup
Batch distillation
At start t=0 we have:

L1 moles and xA1.
At t>0 we have:
L2 moles and xA2 in the still and yA of the vapour leaving the still.
Hence amount vaporized dL=L1-L2.

And the change of concentration in the still is dx.
Batch distillation
•Component
A material balance between t=0 and t gives;
Expand equation,
Rearranging,
Batch distillation

•Integrating,
where 1 is initial state and 2 is final state.

The above equation is known as the Rayleigh equation.
Example
A mixture of 100 mol containing 50 mol% A and 50 mol% B is

distilled under differential conditions at 1 atm until 40 mol is
distilled.
What is the composition of the liquid left in the still and the
composition of the collected condensed vapour?
Example
•
Example
Break it down into small rectangular
Self exercise
An equimolar mixture of benzene and toluene is subjected to a

flash distillation at a pressure of 1 bar. Determine the
compositions of liquid and vapour products, when 25% is
vaporized.
What would be the compositions of the products if the same
separation were done in a batch still instead.
References
C. J. Geankoplis, Transport Processes and Separation Process

Principles, 4th Ed., Prentice Hall 2003. Sections 11.2, 11.3
W. L. McCabe, J. C. Smith and P. Harriott: Unit Operations of

Chemical Engineering, 7th Ed., McGraw Hill, 2004.
Chapters 21, 22
Seader and Henley, Separation Process Principles, 2nd Ed.,

Wiley, 2006.
Sections 4.1,4.2,13.1

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SEPARATION PROCESS I

Simple distillation methods

Last Updated:Monday, March 15, 2021

To introduce the students to the single stage types of continuous

On completion of this topic, students must be able to calculate

Relative volatility is the measurement of a separation

Note that α>1 for separation to take place

Assuming that Raoult’s and Dalton’s law hold we can rearrange

The relative volatility is the quotient between two K-factors:

1. Distillation is defined as a process in which a liquid or vapour mixture of two or

Last Updated: © I-Station Solutions Sdn Bhd 7

1. The liquid mixture will have different boiling point characteristics

Last Updated: © I-Station Solutions Sdn Bhd 8

• The separation process in chemical and petroleum industries.

Last Updated: © I-Station Solutions Sdn Bhd 9

1. Two main types:

1. Important distillation types that occur:

•Inequilibrium or flash distillation, which occurs in a single

We introduce ƒ as the mole fraction of the feed vaporized

Rearranging =>Operating line

=feed enthalpy, and =vapor and liquid enthalpy

That means that the fraction ƒ is a function of initial and final

A second relation is needed to find y and x. Such a relation is

A mixture of 50 mol% of Benzene and 50 mol. Toluene

At (0.5, 0.5), (0.4, y),

Þ Plot the operating line from feed point

A mixture of 50 mol% of A and 50 mol% B is subjected to flash

The liquid is heated slowly and the vapour removed and

The concentration of the volatile component will decrease as the

At start t=0 we have:

Hence amount vaporized dL=L1-L2.

where 1 is initial state and 2 is final state.

A mixture of 100 mol containing 50 mol% A and 50 mol% B is

Break it down into small rectangular

An equimolar mixture of benzene and toluene is subjected to a

C. J. Geankoplis, Transport Processes and Separation Process

W. L. McCabe, J. C. Smith and P. Harriott: Unit Operations of

Seader and Henley, Separation Process Principles, 2nd Ed.,

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