CHE3053S Separation Processes Course Notes
Section 6:
Stage-wise Extraction and Absorption Processes
Material balances
Assume the following
Perfect contact between two miscible phases
Steady state, isothermal
Concentration changes with position in the apparatus (or in the
case of a batch operations with time
For a big enough apparatus or a long enough time, the exiting
concentrations will reach equilibrium.
Steady state co-current processes (Treybal)
Fig. 6-1 : Co-current process nomenclature
Consider a unit operation in which two immiscible streams E and R are
contacted with each other in a co-current operation. (gas-liq, liq-liq, solidgas, solid-liq). A single component A is transferred across from phase R
to phase E.
E1, E2, R1, R2 : total flow rate : mole/time
y1, y2 : mole fractions of species A in phase E,
x1, x2 : mole fractions of species A in phase R.
Y1, Y2 : mole ratios of species in phase E;
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X1, X2 : mole ratios of species in phase R;
Es, Rs : flow rate of the non-transferred species (inerts or the tie
component)
The definition for Yi and Xi is
Overall mass balance between the inlet (1) and the outlet (2) :
mass balance for A between the inlet (1) and the outlet (2) :
Now use can be made of R s and Es to eliminate one equation (tie
substance):
thus
(1)
An mass balance from the inlet (1) to any point in the apparatus (the
dashed line in Fig 1) yields :
(2)
Equations (1) and (2) represent the operating lines for this operation.
This is nothing other than the mass balance across the unit. They can be
used to calculate the variation of the concentration through the
apparatus.
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Fig 6-2 : Operating line for the transfer of A from R to E
Notes :
The Y vs X diagram shows the equilibrium line. This represents
the phase equilibrium for component A between phase E and
Phase R. It is obtained from thermodynamic calculations (i.e. VLE,
Henrys Law, solubility data, etc.)
The operating line is straight on Y vs. X coordinates ONLY. It
represents the graphical solution to equation (2) with the end points
given by equation (1).
X, Y is the composition anywhere in the apparatus
Xi, Yi : is equilibrium composition that would be achieved in the
system if it was left in contact for an infinite amount of time, or the
apparatus was sufficiently large to provide a long enough contact
time.
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For transfer of species A from E to R, the same derivation can be made.
This is left as a exercise. The graphical solution is schematically shown
on Y vs. X co-ordinates, only the co-ordinates will change to yield:
Fig 6-3 : Transfer from E to R
Representing the X-Y diagram in x-y coordinates:
Fig 6-4: Operating lines on y vs. x diagram
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In this case the operating line is no longer straight. This is because the
flow rates R and E change through the unit due to the changing total
number of moles in each stream. To get the operating line it is necessary
to solve
simultaneously to account for the changing flows through the apparatus:
Note that x and X (or y and Y) become equivalent at very low
concentrations usually for x < 0.05 (then X < 0.052) this is acceptable.
Single section liquid-liquid extraction cascades (S&H chapter 4&5)
In the special case of LINEAR EQUILIBRIUM the single stage mass
balance becomes:
Figure 6-5: A single Liquid-Liquid extraction stage
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Assumptions:
Components C and A are mutually insoluble
The solvent stream (S) entering contains no B, i.e. YBS = 0
The equilibrium between the two streams is described by a linear
equilibrium, i.e. YB=KBXB
FA: Feed rate of A, FS: Feed rate of S
XB and YB represent mole ratios of component B in raffinate and extract
streams, respectively, i.e.
XB = (moles B)/(moles A), and
YB = (moles B)/(moles C)
mass balance on solute (B):
equilibrium:
Elimination of YBE yields:
Now define the extraction factor E:
then
This represents the degree of extraction that can be achieved by a single
stage. The larger E, the greater the extent of extraction. The fraction of B
not extracted is:
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Continuous cross flow cascades (or staged systems)
Purpose: connected in such a way to enhance the mass transfer over
that achieved in a single stage. Often applied in testing a solvent
extraction process by repeatedly contacting the raffinate with fresh
solvent can generate the X-Y curve in this way.
Fig. 6-6 : Cross flow stages
Mass balance for each stage (each stage is in co-current flow, thus use
the previous equations):
The composition of the E phase for each stage is assumed to be the
same. Graphically :
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Fig. 6-7: Cross flow operating lines
NOTES :
If Es1 = Es2 = Es3 = Es then the slopes of all the operating lines are equal
Point A, is the lowest concentration that can be achieved in X using the
given feed with a composition Y0.
General equations for a stage:
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Special case cross-current with linear equilibrium and fresh solvent
feed
Fig 6-8: Cross flow liquid-liquid extraction stages
Assume that the solvent is sent to each stage in equal amounts, thus for
N stages the solvent flow to each stage will F s/N. Thus the extraction
factor for each stage n will be
Doing the mass balance as for connected co-current stages:
Eliminate of the inter-stage compositions by multiplying:
For all stages N:
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For any intermediate stage n:
If there was an infinite number of stages then N
This says that for a fixed E, which means that the flow rates of F A and FS
are fixed, it is not possible to complete extraction using cross-current
stages. If the extraction factor is large (for example E=10 gives X B/XBR =
0.0005), so extraction is almost complete.
Counter-current staged cascades
Fig 6-9: Counter-current staged operation
Mass balances for each stage:
Each of these equations represents the co-current mass balance for
each stage, i.e. the operating line for each stage. For the entire
cascade :
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This gives the operating line for the overall process. For a balance from
the last stage N to stage n :
This gives the O/L from stage N to any other stage in the system.
Graphically:
Fig 6-10 : Staged counter-current operation
Notes:
The operation line for each stage n follows the dotted line
The number of intersections with the equilibrium line (or imaginary
efficiency line) represents the number of units that will be required
to achieve the separation.
The overall operating line is not continuous and only represents the
behaviour of the overall "black box" mass balance.
The stage n operating lines need not reach the equilibrium line i.e.
there can be a Murphree-type efficiency factor. The overall
operating line still applies but more stages will be needed (smaller
steps, see Fig. 6-11)
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Fig 6-11: Staged-counter-current for efficiency < 100%
The feed to each stage n is given by (Yn+1, Xn-1) and the leaving
stream is given by (Yn, Xn). A simplified diagram (Fig 6-12) can be
used to develop the same equations:
Fig 6-12 : Simplified counter current stages.
Solution of the system of equations on a computer
The mass balance equations below will give the composition for each
stage if a relationship for the exiting streams (Xn, Yn) is available:
As an example assuming that each stage goes to equilibrium and the
equilibrium line is represented by the following local relationship:
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For 3 stages the following balances must be solved:
There are 6 equations to solve for the 6 unknown compositions (X 1, Y1,
X2, Y2, X3, Y3) leaving each of the stages given the composition of the
input streams X0, Y4 and the flow rates R S and ES, in fact only the ratio
Rs/Es is needed. Any one of the unspecified variables can be exchanged
with the specified variables, e.g. If the recovery of Y 1 is given, then the
flow rate of ES can be found instead of Y1. If for example Y1 is assumed
to be in equilibrium with X0, this is the maximum separation that can be
achieved, and then the minimum flow rate of R S can be obtained when
RS is specified, this leads to the concept of minimum flow rates. If the
equilibrium is linear (as above), a system of 6 linear equations forming a
6 x 6 matrix needs to be solved.
Analysis of counter-current extraction with linear equilibrium and
fresh solvent feed
Fig 6-13: Counter current liquid-liquid extraction cascades
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Mass balances:
Solving these proceeds as follows, or simply arrange as a matrix and use
a computer package.
The general formula for N stages is
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NOTES:
The decrease in concentration per state is greater than in cross
flow.
X B
For an infinite number of stages and E > 1, X = 0, thus complete
BF
extraction can be achieved.
When E < 1, extraction will not be complete.
Kremser Equations: Special case of linear equilibrium (Y i = KiXi),
but any feed concentration
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Minimum flow rates of E and R
As the operating line cannot cross the equilibrium line, it might be
expected that there will be some situations at which the slope of the
equilibrium line might need to cross the equilibrium curve to achieve the
desired recovery. This situation puts constraints (upper and lower) on the
flow rates of ES and RS. Consider the following:
Fig 6-13: Minimum flow rates shown graphically
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This analysis applies to both continuous and stages operations. Before
starting, it is necessary to know at least three of the compositions of the
streams entering and exiting the unit. The 4th composition and the ratio
RS/ES can then be found for the following situations:
Point A : X1, Y1, X2 are specified and
is chosen such that X2 is
still obtained. The maximum slope that the operating line can have is
when X2 is in equilibrium with YA. This happens when the operating line
touches the equilibrium curve at point A. This requires that the unit has
an infinite number of stages or that the unit is infinitely large. Any slope
greater than
will mean that the operating will have to cross
the equilibrium line to reach X2. Because the operating line cannot
cross the equilibrium line, X2 will never be reached and the system will
pinch before reaching X2. For feasible operation of the unit,
will have to be decreased, either by decreasing R S or by increasing ES.
Generally, given the flow rate of R S, this analysis yields the minimum
flow rate of ES.
Point B: X1, Y1, Y2 are specified and
is chosen such that Y2 is
still obtained. The maximum slope that the operating line can have is
when Y2 is in equilibrium with XB.
Point C: X2, Y2, and X1 are specified and
is chosen such that
X1 is still obtained. The minimum slope that the operating line can
have is when X1 is in equilibrium with YC. By the same argument, any
slope less than
will mean that X1 will not be achieved
because the operating line cannot cross the equilibrium curve, and the
system will pinch before X$_{1}$ is reached. For feasible operation the
slope of the operating line must be increased to larger than
by increasing RS or decreasing ES. Generally, ES will be specified and
this representsthe minimum flow rate of ES.
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Point D : X2, Y2, Y1 are specified and
is chosen such that Y1 is
still obtained. The minimum slope that the operating line can have is
when Y1 is in equilibrium with XD.
Solution on a computer
The overall mass balance and the equilibrium line equation have to be
solved simultaneously. Consider Point A, solving then requires:
When YA=KX2 the system is linear and solution is easy. When the
equilibrium is non-linear, then its best to use a computer, where the
unknowns are RS/ES and YA.
Special case: When the regular method does not work
Fig 6-14 : Minimum flow rates from the tangent case
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Consider the situation when Y1, X1, Y2 are specified. Them in order to
find the maximum
, the regular construction yields point B. This
is not possible as the operating line cannot cross the equilibrium line,
thus point B will never be reached. It is possible to choose point A such
that the operating line is tangent to the equilibrium line at (X P,YP).
Although in this case point A will not be reached as the unit will pinch at
(XP,YP). This represents the correct limiting behaviour in finding
.
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Section 7:
Staged Absorption and Stripping of Gases into Liquids
Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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Section 7: Gas-liquid Absorption
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