Multistage countercurrent

Stage to Stage Calculations

How to determine N required to get to LN?
∆ is the common operating point where all streams
pass through.
Since end points are known,
x∆ can be calculated, and
point ∆ located.
Or it can be located by graph.

M Azmi Bustam
 Multistage countercurrent
Example Stage to Stage Calculations
Pure isopropyl ether at 450 kg/h is being used to extract
an aqueous solution of 150 kg/h with 30 wt% acetic acid
by countercurrent multistage extraction. The exit acid
concentration in the aqueous phase is 10 wt%.
Calculate the number of stages required.

M Azmi Bustam
 Multistage countercurrent
Example Stage to Stage Calculations
Pure isopropyl ether at 450 kg/h is being used to extract an aqueous solution of 150
kg/h with 30 wt% acetic acid by countercurrent multistage extraction. The exit acid
concentration in the aqueous phase is 10 wt%. Calculate the number of stages
required.
Known:

VN+1 = 450 kg/h, yAN+1 = 0, yCN+1 = 1.0, L0 = 150 kg/h, xA0 = 0.30, xB0 =
0.70, xC0 = 0, xAN = 0.10
Locate point M as per previous example M

V1 gives yA1 = 0.07, yC1 = 0. 90

M Azmi Bustam
 Multistage countercurrent
Example Stage to Stage Calculations
Pure isopropyl ether at 450 kg/h is being used to extract an aqueous solution of 150 kg/h
with 30 wt% acetic acid by countercurrent multistage extraction. The exit acid
concentration in the aqueous phase is 10 wt%. Calculate the number of stages required.
Known: VN+1 = 450 kg/h, yAN+1 = 0, yCN+1 = 1.0, L0 = 150 kg/h, xA0 = 0.30, xB0 = 0.70, xC0 = 0, xAN = 0.10

• Operating point ∆ obtained by

intersection of lines L0V1 and LNVN+1
or calculated.
• Tie line from V1 locates L1
• Draw line L1 to ∆ to locate V2
• Tie line from V2 locates L2
• Draw line L2 to ∆ to locate V3
• Tie line from V3 locates L3
• So you have 2+ stages (make it 3)

M Azmi Bustam
 Multistage countercurrent
Minimum Solvent rate, VN+1
• When the line through operating point ∆ and a tie
line is similar
• Infinite number of stages
• Use more than this value in actual operation
How to get this minimum?
• Draw tie line from L0 to intersect line LNVN+1
• This is ∆ min and is also location for (VN+1)min

M Azmi Bustam
 Multistage countercurrent
Immiscible Liquids
• The overall and component balances becomes:
 x0   y N +1   xN   y1 
L′  + V ′  = L′  + V ′ 
 1 − x0   1 − y N +1   1 − xN   1 − y1 

 x   y   x   y 
L′ 0  + V ′ n +1  = L′ n  + V ′ 1 
 1 − x0   1 − yn +1   1 − xn   1 − y1 

• Becomes an operating line with slope ~ L’/V’

• Similar to distillation and absorption – stages can be
stepped off the x-y phase diagram

M Azmi Bustam
 Multistage countercurrent
Packed Tower design
Similar to stripper

 x0 − ( y N +1 / m ) 
ln  ( 1 − A ) + A
 x N − ( y N +1 / m ) 
N OL =
ln( 1 / A )

L
H OL =
K x' a S

M Azmi Bustam
An effluent solution of 100 kgmoles/h containing 0.010 mole fraction of nicotine is to be extracted using kerosene. A
kerosene stream of 200 kg/h containing 0.0005 mole fraction of nicotine is used in a counter current stage tower.
The water and kerosene are essentially immiscible in each other. It is desired to reduce the concentration of the
effluent solution to 0.0010 mole fraction of oil. The equilibrium data are given in the following table. Estimate the
number of theoritical stages required for the separation. Compare it with kremser’s equation.

Equilibrium data for oil in water and hexane

Mole fraction of Nicotine Mole fraction of Nicotine

in water, X’ in kerosene, Y’
0.001010 0.000806

0.002460 0.001959

0.005000 0.004540

0.007460 0.006820

0.009880 0.009040

0.202000 0.018500

M Azmi Bustam
 Multistage countercurrent
Example:
Pure solvent isopropyl ether at the rate of 600 kg/h is being used to extract an aqueous
solution of 200 kg/h containing 30 wt% acetic acid by countercurrent multistage extraction.
The desired exit acetic acid concentration is 4 wt%. Calculate the compositions and amounts
of ether extract and aqueous raffinate.

To find M, determine xCM and xAM

L0 xC 0 + VN +1 yCN +1 200(0) + 600(1.0)

xCM = = = 0.75
L0 + VN +1 200 + 6001

L0 x A0 + VN +1 y AN +1 200(0.30) + 600(0)
x AM = = = 0.075
L0 + VN +1 200 + 6001

Plot these points on the rect phase diagram

M Azmi Bustam
 Palm oil mill effluent solution of 150 kg/h containing 0.010 weight fraction
of oil in water is to be stripped using hexane. A hexane stream of 300 kg/h
containing 0.0005 weight fraction of oil is used in a counter current stage
tower. The water and hexane are essentially immiscible in each other. It is
desired to reduce the concentration of the effluent solution to 0.0010 weight
fraction of oil. The equilibrium data are given below. Estimate the number of
theoritical stages required for ofthe
Weight fraction desired
oil Weight extraction.
fraction of oil
in water, X’ in hexane, Y’

0.001010 0.000806

0.002460 0.001959

0.005000 0.004540

0.007460 0.006820

0.009880 0.009040

M Azmi Bustam