The distillate and bottom flowrates
A mixture of n-heptane (A) and ethyl benzene (B) is to be separated in a distillation column operated at 1 atm. The feed flowrate is 300 mol/h and contains 40 mol% n-heptane. 60 % of the feed is liquid. It is required to obtain an overhead product containing 96 mol% n-heptane and a bottom product containing 5 mol% n-heptane. Find the following:
a) The distillate and bottom flowrates
b) The minimum reflux ratio
c) The minimum number of stages
d) The number of stages at a reflux ratio of 1.5Rmin
The following is the equilibrium data for n-heptane/ethyl benzene at 1 atm.
| xA | yA |
| 0.000 | 0.000 |
| 0.080 | 0.230 |
| 0.250 | 0.514 |
| 0.485 | 0.730 |
| 0.790 | 0.904 |
| 1.000 | 1.000 |
