EXPERIMENT NO

Date:

STEAM DISTILLATION
AIM:- To verify Henrys law for steam distillation
APPARATUS:-

Distillation flasks ,Steam

Thermometer, Stop watch etc.

CHEMICALS

:-

PROCEDURE

:-

generator,

Measuring

cylinder,

Beakers,

Nitrobenzene, water.

1. Take 300 ml of nitrobenzene in distillation flask.

2. Fill up the water in steam generator.
3. Arrange the assembly as shown in figure.
4. Start the assembly as shown in figure.
5. Start the condenser water flow as shown in figure.
6. After sometime steam will generate and will enter into the
flask.

distillation

7. The distillation operation will start.

8. The distillate water vapor of nitrobenzene and steam will go to
condenser and finally the vapor mixture is condensed.

the

9. Record the distillation temperature.

CH 305: Mass Transfer Operations-I (P)

Page

OBSERVATION:Density of water
Density of nitrobenzene

= 1g/cc
= 1.27 g/cc

Vapor pressure of water at distillation

= ---------- mmHg

Vapor pressure of nitrobenzene at distillation = ----------- mmHg

Volume of water collected

= ----------- mL

Volume of nitrobenzene collected

= ----------- mL

Boiling point of nitrobenzene

= -------------0C

Temperature of distillation

= ----------- 0C

Figure: Experimental Set up

CALCULATIONS:1. WA = A * VA
where, WA = Weight of Nitrobenzene
A = Density of Nitrobenzene, VA = Volume of Nitrobenzene
2. WB = B * VB
where, WB = Weight of Water
B = Density of Water, VB = Volume of Water
3. WA / WB
4. As par Henrys law; WA / WB = PA * MA / PB * MB
where, PA = Vapor pressure of nitrobenzene, PB = Vapor pressure weight of steam,
MA = molecular weight of nitrobenzene, MB = molecular weight of water

CH 305: Mass Transfer Operations-I (P)

Page

RESULT & DISCUSSION:(1) Experimental ratio of distillate =

(2) As per Henrys law, theoretical ratio of distillate=

CONCLUSION:-

CH 305: Mass Transfer Operations-I (P)

Page

THEORY:
This kind of distillation can be done where the mutual solubility of some liquids is small so
that they can be considered substantially insoluble. It can be observed in the case of mixture of
hydrocarbon and water where the given liquids are completely insoluble, the vapour pressure of either
component cannot be influenced by the presence of other and each exerts its true vapour pressure at
prevailing temperature .When the sum of the individual vapour pressures is equal to the total pressure
(pA + pB = pt; y* = pA/pt), the mixture boils and the vapour pressure is computed. If two liquid phases
are present, the mixture will boil at the same temperature and vapour of constant composition is
produced.
In this distillation, the high boiling organic liquid can be made to vapourize at a temperature
much lower than its normal boiling point as long as liquid water is present without the use of vacuum
pump equipment. Some organic liquid may undergo considerable decomposition if boiled since, the
heat requirement for this process is high so, a large amount of water must be evaporated
simultaneously. In such cases the alternatives are:- (1) to operate the process at a different total
pressure in the presence of liquid water where the ratio of the vapour pressures of the substances may
be more favourable (2) to sparge the superheated steam through the mixture in the absence of liquid
water and to vapourise the organic liquid by allowing it to saturate the steam.

CH 305: Mass Transfer Operations-I (P)

Page