Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

Course Number: ChE-302

Course Title: Chemical Engineering Laboratory-II

Experiment Number: 03
Name of the Experiment: Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

Submitted by:

Submitted to:

Mahe Rukh

Dr. Syeda Sultana Razia

Student Number: 1202036

Professor

Section: A2

Department of chemical
engineering

Group Number: 02

Department of Chemical Engineering

Partners Student Numbers: 1202037

BUET
Date of

1202038 Performance:
1202039 03/10/15
1202040 Date of Submission:
10/10/15
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Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

1.0 Summary
The aim of this experiment is to produce vapor-liquid equilibrium at atmospheric pressure and to
determine equilibrium composition and temperature. This experiment helps one to inspect the
relationship between vapor and liquid phases and to understand the concept of VLE
comprehensively. A binary system e.g. ethanol-water system was used in this experiment. The
mixture was fed into an evaporator and the evaporated vapor was cooled down using condenser.
The condensed liquid falls back into round bottom flask. This cycle continues until the
temperature becomes constant. Samples from both round bottle flask and distillate collector were
collected to measure refractive indices. At equilibrium point refractive indices of vapor and
liquid achieve constant values. Using refractive index vs. composition diagram equilibrium
composition was measured. The experimental values of equilibrium compositions with Txy
diagram and X-Y diagram are then compared with the theoretical values. The equilibrium
temperature of the vapor liquid equilibrium system was found to be 82 0C. The mole fraction of
ethanol in liquid phase was .10 and that in vapor phase was .54, while the corresponding
theoretical values are 0.29 and 0.57 correspondingly.

2.0 Introduction
Equilibrium can be referred to as a static condition in which there is no change in macroscopic
properties of a system with time. According to Vapor-liquid equilibrium(VLE) the rate of
condensation of vapor is equal to the rate of vaporization without any net interconversion
between liquid and vapor phase. In this experiment our goal was to create vapor liquid
equilibrium at atmospheric pressure and to determine equilibrium temperature and composition
for a binary system. Undoubtedly the concept of vapor liquid equilibrium is the heart of many
chemical processes and has immense importance in chemical and environmental engineering as
various processes like drying, distillation and evaporation depend greatly on VLE. According to
theory it needs forever to reach equilibrium but in real practice it can be reached in a closed
space if vapor and liquid phases are in contact with each other for long period without any

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Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

interference. For multicomponent system equilibrium condition can be defined by following

equations
;
; and
Where P and T are pressure and temperature of different phases and G is Gibbs free energy also
called as chemical potential.
Temperature-composition curve (T-x,y diagram), composition of liquid phase vs. composition of
vapour phase (y-x diagram) are the most common graphical representation of binary vapor liquid
equilibrium system. And these diagrams were used to obtain result. This experiment also gives us
insight on distillation process.

3.0 Experimental work

3.1 Apparatus

Refractometer
Thermometer
Round bottom flask
Sample collector
SOLTEQ Vapor Liquid Equilibrium Unit

3.1 Experimental setup

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Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

Figure-01: Experimental setup for vapor-liquid equilibrium

3.2 Procedure

At first the refractive index of the feed solution was determined at room temperature.
Then 200 ml of ethanol water feed solution of composition 24% ethanol (by weight) was
poured to the equilibrium still through thermometer point and no gas leakage must be

ensured
As Temperature should not exceed 80-degree Celsius cooling water flow was started to

condenser.
Then the mixture was heated by electric heater. The heater needed to be adjusted in such
a way that the mixture of vapor and liquid was raised through the narrow neck above the

flask.
After 30 minutes when temperature reached a constant value samples were collected from
both round bottom flux and distillate collector in small sample bottles. And their
corresponding refractive indices were recorded after they cool down.
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Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

Step 5 was repeated until a constant refractive index was obtained and the system was

assumed to reach equilibrium.

The temperature was recorded with thermometer which was the equilibrium temperature.
Samples from both round bottom flux and distillate collector ware collected and

refractive indices were measured with refractometer.

At last refractive index-composition curve was used to obtain the equilibrium conditions.

4.0 Observed data

Refractive index of feed solution= 1.357
Initial composition of feed solution= 24 mole% ethanol
Table 01: Data for refractive index of ethanol water system in liquid and vapor phase

Refractive
index
liquid phase

Refractive
index vapor
phase

(average
values)

(average
values)

82

1.355

1.361

82

1.348

1.3622

82

1.352

1.3625

82

1.3485

1.362

82

1.34875

1.362

82

1.348

1.362

No. of

Temperature

observation

(oC)

5.0 Calculated data

Table 02: Data for composition of ethanol water system in liquid and vapor phase

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Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

No. of
observati
on

Temperatur
e
(oC)

Refractive
index
liquid
phase
(average
values)

Mole fraction,
x (mole %)

Refractiv
e index
vapor
phase

Mole fraction,
y (mole %)

(average
values)

82

1.355

20

1.361

41

82

1.348

12

1.36225

60

82

1.352

10

1.3625

60

82

1.3485

11

1.362

54

82

1.34875

11

1.362

54

82

1.348

10

1.362

54

6.0 Sample Calculation

Equilibrium temperature= 82oC
From experiment
Composition of ethanol in mole percent
In vapor phase= 54%
In liquid phase= 10%
Literature values of composition of ethanol in mole percent from Txy diagram
Liquid phase = 29%
Vapor phase = 57 %
From the x-y diagram
Vapor phase = 44 (mole %) ethanol for the composition of liquid phase = 10 (mole %) ethanol.
Liquid phase = 24 (mole %) ethanol for the composition of vapor phase = 54 (mole %) ethanol.

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Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

7.0 Graphical representation

105

100

95

90

Temparature (C)
liquid 85

vapor

0.29 0.57 0.1

80

75

70
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Mole fraction of liquid (x) and vapor (y) of Ethanol

Figure 02: Temperature vs. molar composition of liquid(x) and vapor(y) phase

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Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

Molar composition of Ethanol in vapor (y)

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Molar composition of Ethanol in Liquid (x)

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Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

Figure 03: Molar composition of Ethanol in liquid vs. molar composition of

Ethanol in vapor

8.0 Results
Equilibrium temperature= 82oC
Equilibrium composition of ethanol in liquid phase= 10%(mole)
Equilibrium composition of ethanol in vapor phase= 54%(mole)

9.0 Discussions
The experiment was carried out successfully by following the procedures. The values we
obtained experimentally showed deviations from literature values due to errors introduced in the
experiment. At 82-degree Celsius the equilibrium composition of Ethanol in liquid and vapor
phase should be 29% and 57% respectively. Whereas we achieved 10 mole% ethanol
composition in liquid phase and 54mole% in vapor phase. From the data it is evident that
deviation is significant. Moreover, from X-Y diagram we can observe experimentally obtained
equilibrium composition lay below the theoretically obtained equilibrium values. However, the
compositions obtained experimentally should have lied on equilibrium curves as the
compositions are equilibrium compositions. The probable causes for such deviations are
explained below

The provided graph of refractive index vs. composition graph was for 30 o C. but the
temperature of the day of performance was above 30oC which may have influenced the
result.

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Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

ethanol is highly volatile and transfer of ethanol from one vessel to another vessel
provided room for ethanol loss. As a result, measurement of refractive index was not

accurate.
Our system was not properly insulated and there was temperature difference between top
and bottom part of the equilibrium still. Hence, the temperature values that were recorded
were not the actual temperature values of the mixture. Therefore, lack of proper

insulation is responsible for deviation in results.

Narrow pipes were used in the apparatus which increased pressure above the liquid. As a
result, vapor could not pass freely and pressure was not constant everywhere. But this
process should be isobaric and constancy of pressure is a prime requirement of this

experiment.
After measuring refractive index of a sample the sampling bottle was not cleaned
properly. Any drop of liquid from previous sample can change concentration of new
sample and manipulate results.

10.0 References

Wankat, Phillip.C. (2012). Separations process engineering,3rd edition, Upper Saddle

River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Introduction to Chemical Engineering Processes/Vapor-Liquid equilibrium, Wikibooks,
retrieved from
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Chemical_Engineering_Processes/Vapor-

Liquid_equilibrium
Vaporliquid equilibrium, Wikipedia, retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vapor%E2%80%93liquid_equilibrium
VLE, Academia, retrieved from
https://www.academia.edu/11843101/VLE_Lab_Report_2015_

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Marking Scheme: Normal Report

Name: Mahe Rukh
Student number: 1202036
Section and marks allocated
Summary(1)
Introduction (1)
Experimental Work (1.5)
Observed Data (1)
Calculated Data (1)
Sample Calculation (1)
Graphs (1)
Results and Discussion (1)
References and Nomenclature (0.5)
Writing Quality and Style (1)
Total (10)

Marks

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