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EH/APR 2011/CBE582

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA FINAL EXAMINATION

COURSE COURSE CODE EXAMINATION TIME

SEPARATION PROCESSES I CBE582 APRIL 2011 3 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES 1. 2. 3. This question paper consists of five (5) questions. Answer ALL questions in the Answer Booklet. Start each answer on a new page. Answer Question 4a) and 4c) in graphs entitled Equilibrium line for acetone-air (1) and Equilibrium line for acetone-air (2) respectively, at the end of the question paper. And then, attach all the graphs together with the Answer Booklet. Do not bring any material into the examination room unless permission is given by the invigilator. Please check to make sure that this examination pack consists of: i) the Question Paper ii) a one-page Appendix 1 iii)a one-page graph 'Equilibrium line for acetone-air (1) iv)a one-page graph 'Equilibrium line for acetone-air (2) v) two pages of graph papers - provided by the Faculty vi)an Answer Booklet - provided by the Faculty

4.

5.

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

This examination paper consists of 5 printed pages
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CONFIDENTIAL QUESTION 1 (P02, C01.C2, C4, C4)

EH/APR 2011/CBE582

Benzene is non-polar and very immiscible in water. A countercurrent multistage is applied to extract benzene from a benzene-water feed solution. The feed stream is 1000 kg/h and contains 30.0 wt % of benzene. The extraction is run with the appropriate solvent stream of a 2000 kg/h that highly dissolves benzene. The final raffinate produces a 2.0 wt % of benzene. The equilibrium data of benzene-water-solvent are stated as shown in Table 1. The x and y are the weight fractions of benzene in water and benzene in solvent, respectively. a) By introducing L' and V as the inert streams, write the overall balance for the whole system of benzene-water-solvent solution. (8 marks) b) Determine the number of theoretical stages required. (11 marks)

c) Calculate analytically the minimum solvent flow rate that can be used. Prior to this solution, write the new overall balance equation over the whole system and indicate the required new value of benzene weight fraction in extract stream on the graph. (6 marks) Table 1: Equilibrium data of benzene-water-solvent
X

0.02 0.04 0.08 0.11 0.15 0.30

y 0.01 0.03 0.07 0.10 0.14 0.28

QUESTION 2 (P06, C02, C3, C5, C5) In a laboratory, benzene (C6H6) is left evaporated under the hood for the investigation of diffusivity of benzene in air at a constant temperature of 293 K (benzene) and at a total pressure of air of 1.01325 x 105 Pa (1.0 atm). Benzene is placed in a narrow metal tube of 20.24 cm length. The height of the liquid in the tube is 5 cm measured from the bottom of the narrow tube. Assume a steady state condition for this case. a) What is the mass transfer diffusion concept best suited for this problem? Illustrate with schematic drawing of diffusion concept. (3 marks)

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EH/APR 2011/CBE582

b) Predict the diffusivity of benzene-air using the semi-empirical equation by Fuller et al. at 293 K and 1 atm. Given the molecular weights of benzene and air are 78.11 and 28.97 g/mol, respectively. Refer to Table 2 for the necessary information. (5 marks) c) Calculate the rate of evaporation of benzene in air at 293K and 1 atm. Assume the system is isothermal and steady state. Solve the problem by using the appropriate equation for diffusion plus convection scenario. [Hint: use the diffusivity value calculated above in (b), the vapor pressure of benzene at 293 K is given as 2.5 X 103 Pa and the total pressure is assumed to be constant.] (7 marks) Table 2: Atomic Diffusion Volumes * Atomic and structural diffusion volume increments, v 16.5 C 1.98 H 5.48 0 5.69 (N) Diffusion volumes for simple molecules, 7.07 H2 6.70 D2 2.88 He 17.9 N2 16.6 o2 20.1 Air Ar 16.1 22.8 Kr 37.9 (Xe) 5.59 Ne * Parentheses indicate that the value is based on only a few data points Source: C.J. Geankoplis & E.N. Fuller. 2003. Transport Processes and Separation Process Principles. Pearson Education, Inc. New Jersey.

QUESTION 3 (P06, C03, C6) Packed towers are used for continuous countercurrent contacting of gas and liquid in gas absorption process. Based on the characteristics of ceramic Raschig rings, plastic Pall rings and metal Cascade Mini-Rings, suggest the best packing materials for separation of ammonia from air with low liquid rates in a packed column and justify your answer. (10 marks)

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CONFIDENTIAL QUESTION 4 (P02, C02, C4, C3, C4)

EH/APR 2011/CBE582

Pure water is used to absorb 95 mol % acetone from an air stream in a tray tower at 293 K. The entering gas contains 10 mol % acetone at a total pressure of 101.3 kPa. The inert air flow rate is 350 kg/h.m2 and the entering pure water flow rate is 2600 kg/h.m2. For the system, Henry's law holds and the equilibrium line, y = mx has been plotted in the graphs entitled as 'Equilibrium line for acetone-air (1) and (2)' as attached at the back of this question paper, where y is the mole fraction of acetone in the vapor in equilibrium with x mole fraction in liquid and m is the slope. Given the molecular weight (MW), MW air = 29 g/mol MW acetone = 58 g/mol M W H 2 0 = 18 g/mol a) Determine the number of theoretical stages required for the absorption of acetone in the system. Attach the graph of 'Equilibrium line for acetone-air (1)' in your answer booklet. (12 marks) b) Assuming an overall tray efficiency of 35%, find the actual trays needed for the separation. (3 marks) c) The minimum liquid flow rate is 150 kg mol/ h.m2. Determine the number of actual trays required if the liquid flow rate is 1.5 times the minimum liquid flow rate, L'min. Attach the graph of 'Equilibrium line for acetone-air (2)' in your answer booklet. (10 marks)

QUESTION 5 (P02, C02, C03, C4, C2, C2) a) A liquid feed consisting of 1200 gmoles of mixture containing 60% naphthalene and 40% dipropylene glycol is differentially distilled at 100 mm Hg pressure and final distillate contains 55% of the feed solution. Determine the concentration of naphthalene in residue and distillate. The equilibrium data are provided in Table 3. The x and y are the mole fractions of naphthalene in the liquid phase and vapor phase, respectively. Attach your graph in the answer booklet. (13 marks) Table 3: Equilibrium data for naphthalene- dipropylene glycol system
X

8.4 11.6 28.0 50.6 68.7 80.6 88.0

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y 22.3 41.1 62.9 74.8 80.2 84.4 88.0

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EH/APR 2011/CBE582

b) Separation of a binary mixture by ordinary distillation is difficult and has limiting conditions in cases of azeotrope. Azeotropic distillation is an alternative to continue the separation process of an azeotropic mixture. Citing an example of a binary mixture system, explain the process of azeotropic distillation. (7 marks) c) Describe total reflux ratio with its advantages and disadvantages. (5 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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APPENDIX 1

EH/APR 2011/CBE582

Diffusion through stagnant nondiffusing B

R7(z 2 -Zi)
DAB T P PAI and PA2 (z 2 - Zi) R

P-PAI

= diffusivity in m2/s = temperature in Kelvin = total pressure in Pa = partial pressures at point 1 and 2 = diffusion path of evaporation in m = universal gas constant (8314.34 m 3 Pa/kgmolK)

Diffusion Coefficients for Gases

DAB =

1.00X10- 7 T 1 7 5 (1/M A +1/M B ) 1 / 2

P[>) 1 / 3 + (I>) 1 / 3 ] 2
= diffusivity in m2/s = temperature in Kelvin = pressure in atm - molecular weight of component A and B = sum of structural volume increments of components A and B

DAB T P MA, MB ^oA , ^OB

Diffusion of Gases A and B Plus Convection

NA= RT(z,-z.)
DAB 7 P pA-i and pA2 (z 2 - Zi) R

D p

y -P-p ^
A\

= diffusivity in m2/s = temperature in Kelvin = total pressure in Pa = partial pressures at point 1 and 2 = diffusion path of evaporation in m = universal gas constant (8314.34 m 3 Pa/kgmol-K)

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CONFIDENTIAL Equilibrium line for acetone-air (1)

EH/APR 2011/CBE582

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Student ID Group Question No. 4a CONFIDENTIAL

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CONFIDENTIAL Equilibrium line for acetone-air (2)

EH/APR 2011/CBE582

Student ID Group Question No. 4c CONFIDENTIAL

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