SAMPLE PROBLEM #5:

A 100 kmol/h of a mixture of 70 mol% benzene

and 30 mol% toluene at 101.32 kPa absolute
pressure is fed at a rectifying column. The feed is
liquid at the boiling point.
The distillate is to contain 80 mol% benzene and
the bottoms 20 mol% benzene.
Calculate the kmol/h distillate, kmol/h bottoms and
the number of theoretical trays needed using the
McCabe-Thiele method given a reflux ratio of
3.24:1.
Equilibrium data at column pressure, mole
fraction benzene

x y x y
0.10 0.21 0.60 0.79
0.20 0.37 0.70 0.86
0.30 0.51 0.80 0.91
0.40 0.64 0.90 0.96
0.50 0.72 0.95 0.98
SOLUTION
Step 1: Draw Diagram

Total Condenser
Overhead vapor
Distillate
Reflux XD=0.80
Feed R = L0/D = 3.24
100 kg mol/h Boilup
Liquid @ BP Partial reboiler
xF = 0.70 Bottoms
xB = 0.20
 Calculate:

 kmol/h distillate

 kmol/h bottoms

 number of theoretical trays

Step 2: Plot Data on McCabe-Thiele Diagram
Benzene – Toluene System
1

0.8

0.6
y

0.4

0.2

0
x
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
Step 3: Plot xD, xF, and xB on diagonal

Benzene – Toluene System

1

0.8

0.6
y

0.4

xD = 0.80
0.2
xB = 0.20 xF = 0.70
0
x
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Step 4: Plot the rectifying operating line

Equation of upper operating line:

R xD
y n1  xn 
R 1 R 1
xD 0.80
y - intercept    0.2
R  1 3.24  1
 Benzene – Toluene System
1
Rectifying
operating line
0.8

y 0.6

0.4
xD = 0.80
0.189 0.2
xB = 0.20 xF = 0.70
0 x
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
 Step 5: Plot the feed line
Since the feed is saturated liquid (liquid at boiling point), quality
q = 1 and the feed line is vertical.
1

Feed line
0.8

0.6
y

0.4

xD = 0.80
0.2
xB = 0.20 xF = 0.70
0
x
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Step 6: Plot the stripping operating line
Benzene – Toluene System
1
Stripping
operating
0.8 line

0.6
y

0.4
xD = 0.80
0.2
xB = 0.20 xF = 0.70
0
x
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Step 7: Step off stages
Benzene – Toluene System
1

0.8

0.6
y

0.4

xD = 0.80
0.2
xB = 0.20 xF = 0.70
0
x
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
N = theoretical trays + 1 = 2.9
Therefore, n = 1.9 theoretical trays
 Set up material balance to get D and B
> Total Balance
F=D+B
> More Volatile Component Balance
xFF = xDD + xBB
0.70(100) = 0.80D + 0.20B
> Solving the two equations, we get
D = 90 kg mol/h
B = 10 kg mol/h