Question

4.49. Isopropyl ether (E) is used to separate acetic acid (A) from water (W). The liquid–liquid equilibrium data at 25C and 1 atm are below: (a) One hundred kilograms of a 30 wt% A–W solution is contacted

with 120 kg of ether (E). What are the compositions and weights of the resulting extract and rafnate? What would the concentration of acid in the (ether-rich) extract be if all ether were removed? (b) A solution of 52 kg A and 48 kg W is contacted with 40 kg of E. Calculate the extract and rafnate compositions and quantities.

LIQUID–LIQUID EQUILIBRIUM DATA FOR ACETIC ACID (A), WATER (W), AND ISOPROPANOL ETHER (E) AT 25C AND 1 ATM

Water-Rich Layer Ether-Rich Layer

Wt% A Wt% W Wt% E Wt% A Wt% W Wt% E

1.41 97.1 1.49 0.37 0.73 98.9 2.89 95.5 1.61 0.79 0.81 98.4 6.42 91.7 1.88 1.93 0.97 97.1 13.30 84.4 2.3 4.82 1.88 93.3 25.50 71.1 3.4 11.4 3.9 84.7 36.70 58.9 4.4 21.6 6.9 71.5 45.30 45.1 9.6 31.1 10.8 58.1 46.40 37.1 16.5 36.2 15.1 48.7

Answer 1