Question

A stream of hydrocarbons contains 80% by weight hexane and 20% benzene point it is desired to recover the benzene from this stream using an extraction process. The extraction is achieved by feeding the hydrocarbon stream and a stream of pure solvent, called "sulfonate". The "sulfonate" extracts a high percentage of benzene but not hexane. At the exit of the extract two streams come out: one with 95% hexane and 5% benzene, and the second stream brings the solvent and the extracted benzene. In this last stream, the concentration of benzene in the solvent is 30 grams of benzene between 100 grams of solvent.
A. Draw a complete diagram of the process including nomenclature for all streams.
If the unit enters 100 pounds mass per hour of the pure solvent, it determines:
B. the flow of hydrocarbons that can be processed in lbm / hour
C. The lbm / hour of benzene that is recovered with the solvent.
D. The lbm / hours of the stream containing 95% hexane.
E. Determine the percentage of benzene recovery based on the benzene entering the process and the one recovered with the solvent.

Answer 1