Question

Methanol (M) is to be separated from water (W) by atmospheric distillation. The feed contains 22 kg/hr methanol and 25 kg/hr water. The distillate contains 90 mol% methanol and the bottom product contains 5 mol% of methanol. The feed is saturated.

(a) Calculate the molar flow rates of methanol and water in the bottom and distillate product stream.

(b) Determine the minimum number of stages and minimum reflux for the problem. If the equilibrium data is given as;

x 0.032 0.0523 0.075 0.154 0.225 0.349 0.813 0.918 1

y 0.19 0.2494 0.352 0.516 0.593 0.703 0.918 0.953 1

Answer 1

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