SAMPLE PROBLEM #9

A continuous countercurrent multistage system

is to be used to leach oil from meal by benzene
solvent. The process is to treat 2000 kg/h of
inert solid (B) containing 800 kg oil (A) and
also 50 kg benzene. The inlet flow pear hour of
fresh solvent mixture contains 1310 kg
benzene and 20 kg oil. The leach solids are to
contain 120 kg oil. The value of N=1.85 kg.
Assuming constant underflow, calculate the
exit flows, compositions and number of stages
required.
 GIVEN
VN+1
1310 kg C6H6
V1 20 kg oil

Lo LN
50 kg benzene 20 kg oil
N = 1.85 kg solid/kg sol’n
800 kg oil
B=2000 kg/h
REQUIRED

Exit flows and compositions

Number of stages
 kg B  2000 kg
LO  800  50 kg h
h h
2000
LO  850 kg
h
N O  800  50
800
N O  2.35
x Ao  800  50
x Ao  0.941 L O
( 0. 941, 2 .35)
 SOLUTION

kg  20 kg N 0
V N 1  1310
h h
kg
V N 1  1330
h V N 1 ( 0.015,0)
20
y AN 1  1330
x Ao  0.015
Point LN lies on N vs. yA,xA line:
N N kg.solid kg.oil kg.solid 2000
     16.67
x AN kg.sol ' n kg.sol ' n kg.oil 120

Assume NN = 2.5, therefore xAN = 0.15

C (0.15,2.5)
Total solid balance on B

B  2000  N   2180 N 
N   0.918

(0.376,0.918)
Overall Material Balance
  LO  VN 1  850  1330
  2180
A Balance

x A  LO xO  VN 1 y AN 1
 2180 x A  850 0.941  1330 0.015
x A  0.376
 3

2.5 L1
2

1.5

0.5

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
 3 Lo

2.5 C
2

1.5 LN
1

0.5

0
VN+1
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
 3

2.5

1.5

1
∑
0.5

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
 3 Lo

2.5

1.5

0.5

0 V1
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
 3 Lo

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

∆
 3 Lo

L1
2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

∆
 3 Lo

2.5

1.5

0.5

V2
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

∆
 3 Lo

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

∆
 3 Lo

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

∆
 3 Lo

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

N=3 stages
∆