Components A and B of a gaseous mixture are separated using a membrane (t=1.72x10 -3cm).

The pressure on the feed

and permeate sides are 50 cm Hg and 15 cm Hg, respectively. The feed flow rate is 7.5x103 cm3/s and the feed composition
is 75% (mol). The desired reject composition is 40% (mol). The permeability of A and B are 40x10-10 cm/s and 3x10-10 cm/s,
respectively. Calculate for the permeate composition, fraction permeated, and required membrane area.

Solution:

Ph=50 cm Hg xo=0.40

Pl=15 cm Hg PA’=40x10-10 cm/s

q=7.5x103 cm3/s PB’=3x10-10 cm/s

xf=0.75 L=1.72x10-3 cm

𝑦𝑝 𝑃𝐴′ ⁄𝑃𝐵′ [𝑥𝑜 − (𝑃𝑙 ⁄𝑃ℎ )𝑦𝑝 ]

=
1 − 𝑦𝑝 (1 − 𝑥𝑜 ) − (𝑃𝑙 ⁄𝑃ℎ )(1 − 𝑦𝑝 )

𝑦𝑝 40⁄3 [0.40 − (15⁄50)𝑦𝑝 ]

=
1 − 𝑦𝑝 (1 − 0.40) − (15⁄50)(1 − 𝑦𝑝 )

𝒚𝒑 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟗𝟖𝟔

𝑞𝑜 + 𝑞𝑝 = 𝑞𝑓

𝑞𝑜 𝑥𝑜 + 𝑞𝑝 𝑦𝑝 = 𝑞𝑓 𝑥𝑓

𝑞𝑜 + 𝑞𝑝 = 7500

0.40𝑞𝑜 + 0.7986𝑞𝑝 = 0.75(7500)

𝑞𝑜 = 913.89 𝑐𝑚3 /𝑠
𝑞𝑝 = 6586.11 𝑐𝑚3 /𝑠
𝑞𝑝 6586.11
𝜃𝑓 = =
𝑞𝑓 7500

𝜽𝒇 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟕𝟖𝟏

𝑞𝑝 𝑦𝑝
𝐴𝑚 = ′⁄
(𝑃𝐴 𝐿)(𝑃ℎ 𝑥𝑜 − 𝑃𝑙 𝑦𝑝 )

(6586.11)(0.7986)
𝐴𝑚 =
(40 × 10−10 ⁄1.72 × 10−3 )(50(0.40) − 15(0.7986))

𝑨𝒎 = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝒄𝒎𝟐
Components A and B of a gaseous mixture are separated using a membrane (t=2.4x10 -3cm). The pressure on the
feed and permeate sides are 58 cm Hg and 21 cm Hg, respectively. The feed flow rate is 6.0x103 cm3/s and the feed
composition is 60% (mol). The desired reject composition is 46% (mol). The permeability of A and B are 50x10-10 cm/s
and 10x10-10 cm/s, respectively. Calculate for the membrane area.

a. 9.78x107 cm2 b. 7.23x107 cm2 c. 4.89x108 cm2 d. 3.62x108 cm2

Intermediate Answers: *remove box to uncover*

yp=0.7035

qo=2550.10 cm3/s

qp=3449.90 cm3/s

θf=0.5750

Am=9.78x107 cm2

Components A and B of a gaseous mixture are separated using a membrane (t=3.1x10-3cm). The pressure on the
feed and permeate sides are 0.85 atm and 0.2 atm, respectively. The feed flow rate is 3.3x108 cm3/hr and the feed
composition is 80% (mol). The desired permeate composition is 95% (mol). The permeability of A and B are 45x10-10
cm/s and 5x10-10 cm/s, respectively. Calculate for the membrane area.

a. 2.52x107 cm2 b. 3.77x1010 cm2 c. 4.96x108 cm2 d. 3.32x108 cm2

Intermediate Answers: *remove box to uncover*

xo=0.7424

qo=66244.94 cm3/s

qp=25421.73 cm3/s

θf=0.2773

Am=4.96x108 cm2 (Hint: Check the units. Convert atm to cm Hg.)

Explanation why cm Hg is the required unit (at least for our purposes):

One common unit of permeability is cm3(STP)-cm/(s-cm2-cm Hg). Simplified, it becomes cm/s.