SAMPLE PROBLEM #20:

A continuous distillation operation with a reflux ratio

(L/D) of 3.5 yields a distillate containing 97 wt% B
(benzene) and bottoms containing 98% T
(toluene). Due to weld failures, the 10 plates in the
bottom section of the column are ruined, but the
upper 14 plates are intact. It is suggested that
the column still be used, with the feed (F) as
saturated vapor at the dew point, with F = 13,600
kg/h containing 40 wt% B and 60 wt% T.
Assuming that the plate efficiency remains
unchanged at 50%: (a) Can this column still
yield a distillate containing 97 wt% B, (b) How
much distillate can we get, and (c) What will the
composition of the residue be in mole percent?
• Equilibrium data in mole fraction benzene,
101 kPa

y x y x

0.79 0.60 0.21 0.10

0.86 0.70 0.37 0.20
0.91 0.80 0.54 0.30
0.96 0.90 0.64 0.40
0.98 0.95 0.72 0.50
SOLUTION Total
Condenser

D
R=L/D=3.5 w% C6H6 97
kg/h 13,600
plates 14
satd vap
F PE=50%
w% C6H6 40 plates 10

B
Partial w% C6H6 2
Reboiler
REQUIRED
(a) xD = 98w% C6H6 ?
(b) D = ?
(c) xB in n% = ?
STEP 1: CONVERT COMPOSITIONS TO PERCENT
BY MOLE
MC6H6 and 78 = MC7H8 92 = (g/mole)

40 78
xF   0.44
40 78   100  40  92
97 78
xD   0.97445
97 78   100  40  92
STEP 2: LOCATE Y-INTERCEPT
xD 0.97445
y-int
   0.22
R  1 3 .5  1
STEP 3: SINCE
NP,actual = 14 (upper section)
PE = 50%, N theo = 7plates + 1PR

from McCabe-Thiele diagram slide, n = 7

plates in the upper section, therefore, xD
is still 97 wt% B
 Benzene-Toluene System

1
1 3
2

4
0.8 Equilibrium curve 5

6
0.6 Feed line 7
y

0.4
Y-intercept
0.2
xB = 0.22
0
xB xF xD
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
x
STEP 4: CALCULATIONS
from McCabe-Thiele diagram, xB = 0.22 mole fraction

0.22  78
xB   0.173
0.22  78  (1  0.22)  92
STEP 5: BALANCES
Total Balance:
F = D + B = 13,600 kg/h
:More volatile Component Balance
xBB + xDD = xFF **Then substitute the value for F and
solve the 2 equations.
D = 3871.25 kg/h and B = 9728.75 kg/h

(A). Yes
(B). D = 3871.25 kg/h
(C). xB = 0.22 mole fraction or
xB = 0.173 weight fraction