Multicomponent Distillation (Chapter – 9)

D1.* We have 10 kmol/h of a saturated liquid feed that is 40 mol% benzene and 60 mol% toluene. We desire a
distillate composition that is 0.992 mole fraction benzene and a bottom that is 0.986 mole fraction toluene (note
units). CMO is valid. Assume constant relative volatility with α BT = 2.4. Reflux is returned as a saturated liquid. The
column has a partial reboiler and a total condenser.
a. Use the Fenske equation to determine Nmin.
b. Use the Underwood equations to find (L/D)min.
c. For L/D = 1.1(L/D)min, use the previous results and the Gilliland correlation to estimate the total number of stages
and the optimum feed stage location.
D3.* We have designed a special column that acts as exactly three equilibrium stages. Operating at total reflux, we
measure vapor composition leaving the top stage and the liquid composition leaving the bottom stage. The column is
separating phenol from o-cresol. We measure a phenol liquid mole fraction leaving the bottom stage of 0.36 and a
phenol vapor mole fraction leaving the top stage of 0.545. What is the relative volatility of phenol with respect to o-
cresol?
D4. We desire to separate 1,2 dichloroethane from 1,1,2 trichloroethane at one atmosphere. We desire 99.15 mol%
dichloroethane in the distillate and 1.773% dichloroethane in the bottoms. The feed is a saturated liquid and is 60.0
mol% 1,2 dichloroethane. Assume the relative volatility is approximately constant, α = 2.4.
a. Find the minimum number of stages using the Fenske equation.
b. Calculate L/Dmin.
c. Estimate the actual number of stages for L/D = 2.2286 using the Gilliland correlation.
d. A detailed simulation gave 99.15 mol% dichloroethane in the distillate and 1.773% dichloroethane in the bottoms
for L/D = 2.2286, N =25 equilibrium contacts, optimum feed location is 16 equilibrium contacts from the top of the
column. Compare this N with part c and calculate the % error in the Gilliland prediction.
D5.* A column with 29 equilibrium stages and a partial reboiler is being operated at total reflux to separate a
mixture of ethylene dibromide and propylene dibromide. Ethylene dibromide is more volatile, and the relative
volatility is constant at a value of 1.30. We are measuring a distillate concentration that is 98.4 mol% ethylene
dibromide. The column has a total condenser and saturated liquid reflux, and CMO can be assumed. Use the Fenske
equation to predict the bottoms composition.
D6.* We are separating 1,000 mol/h of a 40% benzene, 60% toluene feed in a distillation column with a total
condenser and a partial reboiler. Feed is a saturated liquid. CMO is valid. A distillate that is 99.3% benzene and a
bottom that is 1% benzene are desired. Use the Fenske equation to find the number of stages required at total reflux,
a McCabe-Thiele diagram to find (L/D) min, and the Gilliland correlation to estimate the number of stages required if
L/D = 1.15(L/D)min. Estimate that the relative volatility is constant at αBT = 2.4. Check your results with a McCabe-
Thiele
diagram.
D8.* We wish to separate a mixture of 40 mol% benzene and 60 mol% ethylene dichloride in a distillation column
with a partial reboiler and a total condenser. The feed rate is 750 mol/h, and feed is a saturated vapor. We desire a
distillate product of 99.2 mol% benzene and a bottoms product that is 0.5 mol% benzene. Reflux is a saturated
liquid, and CMO can be used. Equilibrium data can be approximated with an average relative volatility of 1.11
(benzene is more volatile).
a. Find the minimum external reflux ratio.
b. Use the Fenske equation to find the number of stages required at total reflux.
c. Estimate the total number of stages required for this separation, using the Gilliland correlation
for L/D = 1.2(L/D)min.
D9. We are separating a mixture of ethanol and water in a distillation column with a total condenser and a partial
reboiler. Column is at 1.0 atm. pressure. The feed is 30.0 mol% ethanol. The feed is a two-phase mixture that is 80
% liquid. Feed rate is 100.0 kmol/h. We desire a bottoms concentration of 2.0 mol% ethanol, and a distillate that is
80.0 mol% ethanol.
a) Find (L/D)min
b) Nmin
c) If (L/D) = 1.05 (L/D)min estimate N and the feed location.

Do this problem by using McCabe-Thiele diagram for parts a and b and the Gilliland correlation
for part c. Equilibrium data are given in Table 2-1.
D11. A distillation column with a total condenser and a partial reboiler is separating a mixture of propane (P), n-
butane (B), and n-hexane (H). The feed (a saturated vapor) is 20 mol% propane, 35 mol% n-butane, and 45 mol% n-
hexane. Feed rate is F = 100 kmol/h. We desire a 99% recovery of the n-butane in the distillate and a 98% recovery
of n-hexane in the bottoms. CMO can be assumed to be valid. If we choose butane as the reference, the average
relative volatilities are αPB = 2.04, αBB = 1.0, αHB = 0.20. Calculate the distillate flow rate D assuming all propane is
in
the distillate, and find the minimum external reflux ratio, (L/D)min.
D12.* a. A distillation column with a partial reboiler and a total condenser is being used to separate a mixture of
benzene, toluene, and cumene. The feed is 40 mol% benzene, 30 mol% toluene and 30 mol% cumene. The feed is
input as a saturated vapor. We desire 99% recovery of the toluene in the bottoms and 98% recovery of the benzene
in the distillate. The reflux is returned as a saturated liquid, and CMO can be assumed. Equilibrium can be
represented as constant relative volatilities. Choosing toluene as the reference component, αbenzene-toluene = 2.25
and αcumene-toluene = 0.210. Use the Fenske equation to find the number of equilibrium stages required at total
reflux and the
recovery fraction of cumene in the bottoms.
b. For the distillation problem given in part a, find the minimum reflux ratio by use of the Underwood equations.
Use a basis of 100 moles of feed/h. Clearly state your assumptions.
d. For L/D = 1.25(L/D)min, find the total number of equilibrium stages required for the distillation problem presented
in parts a and b. Use the Gilliland correlation. Estimate the optimum feed plate location.
D13.* We have a column separating benzene, toluene, and cumene. The column has a total condenser and a total
reboiler and has 9 equilibrium stages. The feed is 25 mol% benzene, 30 mol% toluene, and 45 mol% cumene. Feed
rate is 100 mol/h and feed is a saturated liquid. The equilibrium data can be represented as constant relative
volatilities: αBT = 2.5, αTT = 1.0, and αCT = 0.21. We desire 99% recovery of toluene in the distillate and 98%
recovery of cumene in the bottoms. Determine the external reflux ratio required to achieve this separation. If α BT =
2.25 instead of 2.5, how much will L/D change?
D14. At total reflux a separation requires Nmin = 10 equilibrium contacts. At a finite external reflux ratio of L/D =
2.0, the separation requires N = 18 equilibrium contacts. (N and N min include the partial reboiler and stages in the
column but do not include the total condenser.) Find (L/D)min.
D16.* We are separating a mixture of ethanol and n-propanol. Ethanol is more volatile and the relative volatility is
approximately constant at 2.10. The feed flow rate is 1000 kmol/h. Feed is 60 mol% ethanol and is a saturated
vapor. We desire xD = 0.99 mole fraction ethanol and xB = 0.008 mole fraction ethanol. Reflux is a saturated liquid.
There are 30 stages in the column. Use the Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland approach to determine
a. Number of stages at total reflux
b. (L/D)min
c. (L/D)actual
D20. A distillation column is separating a mixture of benzene, toluene, xylene and cumene. The feed to the column
is 5.0 mol% benzene, 15.0 mol% toluene, 35.0 mol% xylene and 45.0 mol% cumene. Feed rate is 100.0 kmol/h and
is a saturated liquid. We wish to produce a distillate that is 0.57895 mole fraction xylene, 0.07018 mole fraction
cumene, and the remainder is toluene and benzene. The bottoms should contain no benzene or toluene. If we select
toluene as the reference component the relative volatilities are approximately constant in the column at the following
values: benzene = 2.25, toluene = 1.0, xylene = 0.330, and cumene = 0.210.
a. Find distillate and bottoms flow rates.
b. Find the number of equilibrium contacts at total reflux.
D21. A distillation column is separating 100 kmol/h of a saturated vapor feed that is 30 mol% ethanol, 25 mol% i-
propanol, 35 mol% n-propanol, and 10 mol% n-butanol at a pressure of 1.0 atm. We want a 98.6% recovery of i-
propanol in the distillate and 99.2% recovery of n-propanol in the bottoms. The column has a total condenser and a
partial reboiler. For parts b, c, and d, use the Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland method. If we choose n-propanol as the
reference, the relative volatilities are ethanol = 2.17, i-propanol = 1.86, n-propanol = 1.0, and n-butanol = 0.412.
These
relative volatilities can be assumed to be constant.
a. Find D, B, xi,dist, and xi,bot.
b. Find Nmin and NF,min.
c. Find (L/D)min. A spreadsheet is highly recommended to find φ.
d. If L/D = 1.10 (L/D)min, find N and the feed stage.