Differential Distillation

Condenser

Heat

This is a batch distillation method There is no reflux Usually use for binary mixtures

Differential Distillation
The feed is charged to a still pot and the steam is turned on. After a short period, the product can be withdrawn from the top; and the vapour is rich in more volatile component. The liquid remaining in the still becomes weaker in more volatile component as the distillation progresses. Over this period, the composition of the vapour varies. The total vapour formed is not in equilibrium with the residual liquid. However the vapour formed over a short period is in equilibrium with the residual liquid. At the end of the process the liquid that has not been vapourized is removed as the bottom product (or waste product)

115 110 105

Temperature oC

100 95 90 85 80 75 0.0 0.1 0.2

0.3xW 0.4 xF 0.52

y 0.6 1

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

Mole fraction of A in the liquid phase xA

At time t, The quantity of liquid in the still The composition of the liquid in the still
At time (t + dt), The quantity vapourized The composition of the vapour The quantity of the liquid in the still The composition of the liquid

= =

L kg x

= dL kg = y = (L - dL) = (x - dx)

kg

The material balance for the more volatile component for the time interval dt, L . x = y . dL + (L - dL) (x - dx) L . x = y . dL + L . x - L . dx - x . dL + dL . dx L . dx = dL (y x)

dL L

xW

xF
xF

dx (y x)
dx (y x)
K = f (T) (1)
RAYLEIGH EQUATION

F ln W
y = f (x) y = K.x

xW

Total material balance to the system : F = D + W . (2) Material balance on the m.v.c. : F . xF = D . xD (av) + W . xW . (3)

The general graphical procedure

Plot (y-x) equilibrium curve At series of x values find (y-x) Plot 1/ (y x) vs. x Graphically integrate from xF to xW as below

1/(y x)

Area A
Area A

xF

xW

dx ( y x)

xW

xF

Equation (3);

F ln W

xF

xW

dx ( y x)

F ln W
W = Final charge of the material

Area
F eArea W =

F eArea

F. xF - W. xW Average concentration of the distillate = (F W) (from eq. (2) & (3) )

Example 1 50 kilo moles of methanol - water mixture containing 80 mole percent methanol is subjected to differential distillation at 1 atm. The distillation is carried out until the composition of methanol in the still become 65 mole percent. Calculate the quantity and the average composition of distillate.
x y T0C
0 0 100 0.1 0.42 87.7 0.2 0.58 81.7 0.3 0.66 78 0.4 0.73 75.3 0.5 0.78 73.1 0.6 0.82 71.2 0.7 0.87 69.3 0.8 0.91 67.6 0.9 0.96 66 1.0 1.0 64.5

Answer: W = 19.92 k mol, D = 30.08 k mol, xD (av) = 0.899