LECTURE 9.

Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

A liquid mixture containing 30.0 mole% benzene (B), 25.0%

toluene (T), and the balance xylene (X) is fed to a
distillation column.

The bottom product contains 98.0 mole% X and no B, and

96.0% of the X in the feed is recovered in this stream. The
overhead product is fed to a second distillation column.

The overhead product from the second column contains

97.0% of the B in the feed to this column. The composition
of this stream is 94.0 mole% B and the balance T.

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
1
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

Calculate

a. the percentage of the benzene in the process feed (i.e.

the feed to the first column) that emerges in the
overhead product from the second column.

b. the percentage of toluene in the process feed that

emerges in the bottom product from the second
column.

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
2
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
3
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

DEGREES OF FREEDOM ANALYSIS

Unit: Column 1 Unit: Column 2

unknowns unknowns
+4 +7
(n2,n3,xB2,xT2) (n2,n4,n5,xB2,xT2,xB5,xT5)
material balances –3 material balances –3
% recovery for X –1 % recovery for B –1
Degrees of freedom 0 Degrees of freedom +3

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
4
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
5
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

DEGREES OF FREEDOM ANALYSIS on Entire Process

Unit: Entire Process

unknowns (n3,n4,n5,xB5,xT5) +5
material balances –3
% recovery for X –1
Degrees of freedom +1

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
6
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

Column 1 Calculations:

1. 96% recovery of X =====> n3 = 44.1 mol/h

2. Total Balance =====> n2 = 55.9 mol/h

3. Benzene Balance =====> xB2 = 0.536 mol B/mol

4. Toulene Balance =====> xT2 = 0.431 mol T/mol

Column 2 Calculations:

1. 97% recovery of B =====> n4 = 31.0 mol/h

2. Total Balance =====> n5 = 24.9 mol/h

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
7
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

Column 2 Calculations (cont.):

3. Benzene Balance =====> xB5 = 0.036 mol B/mol

4. Toulene Balance =====> xT5 = 0.892 mol T/mol

Additional Calculations:

amount in final overhead n 4xB4

% Recov ery B   x100  97%
amount in feed (100)(0.300)

amount in final bottom n5xT5

% Recov ery T   x100  89%
amount in feed (100)(0.250)

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
8
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–6. Separation of Benzene and Toluene by Distillation

An equimolar liquid mixture of benzene and toluene is

separated into two product streams by distillation.

The vapor stream leaving at the top of the column, which

contains 97 mole% benzene, is fed to a condenser to
undergo complete condensation.

The condensed liquid is split into two equal fractions: one

is taken off as the final overhead product stream and the
other (the reflux) is recycled to the top of the column.

The final overhead product contains 89.2% of the benzene

fed to the column.

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
9
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–6. Separation of Benzene and Toluene by Distillation

The liquid leaving the bottom of the column is fed to a

partial reboiler in which 45% of it is vaporized.

The vapor generated in the reboiler (the boilup) is recycled

to the column, and the residual reboiler liquid is taken as
the final bottom product stream.

The compositions of the streams leaving the reboiler are

governed by the relation:

y B /(1-y B )
= 2.25
xB /(1-xB )

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
10
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–6. Separation of Benzene and Toluene by Distillation

where yB and xB are the mole fractions of benzene in the

vapor and liquid streams, respectively.

Using 100 mol of feed as a basis, calculate

a. the molar amounts of the overhead and bottoms

products

b. the mole fraction of benzene in the bottoms product

c. and the percentage recovery of toluene in the bottoms

product.

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
11
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–6. Separation of Benzene and Toluene by Distillation

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
12
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

DEGREES OF FREEDOM ANALYSIS

Unit: Entire Process Unit: Dist. Column

unknowns unknowns
+3 +5
(n3,n5,yB3) (n2,n4,n5,yB2,yB4)
material balances –2 material balances –2
% recovery for B –1 Degrees of freedom +3
Degrees of freedom 0

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
13
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

DEGREES OF FREEDOM ANALYSIS

Unit: Reboiler
unknowns
+6
(n2,n3,n4,yB2,yB3,yB4)
material balances –2
45 % vaporization –1
mole fraction relationship –1
Degrees of freedom +2

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
14
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

Overall Process Calculations:

1. 89.2% recovery of B =====> n5 = 91.96 mol

2. Total Balance =====> n3 = 54.02 mol

3. Benzene Balance =====> yB3 = 0.100 mol B/mol

Reboiler Calculations:

1. mole fraction relation =====> yB4 = 0.200 mol B/mol

2. % vaporization =====> n4 and n2

3. Total Balance =====> n4 and n2

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
15
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

Reboiler Calculations (cont.):

Solve the last 2 equations simultaneously:

n2 = 98.22 mol ; n4 = 44.20 mol

4. Benzene Balance =====> yB2 = 0.145 mol B/mol

Additional Calculation:

amount in bottom n3 (1  yB3 )

% Recov ery T   x100  97%
amount in feed (100 mol)(0.50)

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
16
LECTURE 9. Solving Material Balance Problems Involving Non-Reactive Processes

Example 9–5. Distillation of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene

Summary of Answers:

Molar amount of overhead : 0.5n5 = 45.98 mol

Molar amount of bottom: n3 = 54.02 mol

Fraction of benzene in bottom yB3 = 0.100 mol B/mol

% Recovery of toluene 97%

SLIDE
Prof. Manolito E Bambase Jr. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of the Philippines Los Baños
17