Question

A gas stream leaves a chemical plant at 85oC and 760 mmHg comprising 30 mole% acetone and the balance is nitrogen. As an attempt to recover the acetone as a liquid, the gas stream is then cooled at constant pressure in a condenser. The uncondensed acetone and nitrogen are released to the atmosphere. There are two different cooling fluids available: one at 25oC and one at – 10oC.
a) Draw and label a flow diagram of the process
b) Determine the vapour pressure of acetone at 25oC and at – 10oC
c) Calculate the % recovery of acetone for the two different cooling fluids in (mol acetone condensed/mol acetone fed to the condenser) by assuming that the condenser operates at the same temperature as the cooling fluid.
*Note: you may create a basis if necessary

Answer 1