Sample Problem #2:

Oil is to be extracted from soybeans by leaching with benzene. Pure benzene is mixed with
crushed soybean mean that contains 50% by weight of soluble oil and 50% inert (insoluble)
solids. Tests with a prototype extractor have verified the assumption of equilibrium and have
determined that the underflow will contain 65 wt% solids. For each of the following:
(a) Two kilograms of pure benzene are mixed with 1 kg of meal containing 50 wt% oil.
(b) One kilogram of pure benzene are mixed with 1 kg of meal containing 25 wt% oil.

Solution:

V0 V1
SLE
L0 L1
65wt% inert

Case 1: V0 = 2 kg & L0 = 1 kg (50wt% oil)

Case 2: V0 = 1 kg & L0 = 1 kg (25wt% oil)

Case 1:

• Inert balance:
(1 - x C 0 )L0 = 0.65L1
(1 - 0.5)(1) = 0.65L1
L1 = 0.77 kg

• Total balance:
V0 + L0 = V1 + L1
2 + 1 = V1 + 0.77
V1 = 2.23 kg

• Equilibrium condition:
x A 0L 0 0.5(1)
y A1 = = = 0 .2
x A 0L 0 + V0 0.5(1) + 2

• Oil balance:
x A 0 L0 = x A1 L1 + y A1 V1
0.5(1) = x A1 (0.77) + 0.2(2.23)
x A1 = 0.07

• % oil recovery
y V 0.2( 2.23 )
= A1 1 × 100 = × 100 = 89.23%
x A 0L 0 0.5(1)
Case 2:

• Inert balance:
(1 - x C 0 )L0 = 0.65L1
(1 - 0.25)(1) = 0.65L1
L1 = 1.15 kg

• Total balance:
V0 + L0 = V1 + L1
1 + 1 = V1 + 1.15
V1 = 0.85 kg

• Equilibrium condition:
x A 0L 0 0.25(1)
y A1 = = = 0 .2
x A 0L 0 + V0 0.25 (1) + 1

• Oil balance:
x A 0 L0 = x A1 L1 + y A1 V1
0.25(1) = x A1 (1.15) + 0.2(0.85)
x A1 = 0.07

• % oil recovery
y V 0.2( 0.85 )
= A1 1 × 100 = × 100 = 67.7%
x A 0L 0 0.25(1)