UCH712 (Distillation Processes)

Tutorial- 2
Faculty- Dr. Neetu Singh

Q-1 A liquid mixture containing 10 mol% n-heptane and rest n-octane is admitted to the top
plate of a stripping tower. The liquid enters the column as a saturated liquid at 101.3kPa. The
bottoms product contains 98 mol% n-octane. For every 3 mole feed, 2 mole vapour is
withdrawn as distillate product. Determine

a) The kmol/h of diatillate and bottom product per 100 kmol/h of feed.
b) The composition of the distillate.
c) The number of theoretical plates.

x 0 0.012 0.039 0.067 0.097 0.284

y 0 0.025 0.078 0.131 0.184 0.459

Q-2 A solution containing 40 mol% of n-heptane and the rest methyl cyclohexane is to be
fractionated to produce a distillate containing 95 mol% heptane. The feed enters at a rate of
100 kmol/h at its boiling point and it is desired that the recovery of heptane in the distillate be
94% of that in the feed. The column is provided with a total condenser and a reboiler. Assume
relative volatility to be constant at 2. Evaluate
a) The composition of the residue
b) The molar flowrate of the products
c) The minimum number of stages (i) using Fenske equation (ii) graphically
d) The minimum reflux ratio.

x 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0

y 0 0.205 0.369 0.502 0.618 0.706 0.789 0.849 0.907 0.955 1.0

Q-3 An enriching column is fed with a feed containing 40 mol% benzene and 60 mol% toluene
at 101.3 kPa. The feed enters at a rate of 100 kmol/h as a saturated vapour and it is desired to
produce a distillate containing 90 mol% benzene. Assume that a total condenser if used and the
reflux ratio is 4.0 mol per mol of distillate. Determine

a) Molar ratio of production of distillate and residue.

b) Composition of the residue.
c) Number of theoretical plates.
 UCH712 (Distillation Processes)
Tutorial- 2
Faculty- Dr. Neetu Singh

Equilibrium data (mole fraction of benzene) are

x 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0

y 0 0.205 0.369 0.502 0.618 0.706 0.789 0.849 0.907 0.955 1.0