SEPARATION PROCESSES II

LEC 1. Batch Distillation

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Chapter Overview
Batch distillation is the laboratory distillation system,
where a liquid mixture is charged into a still-pot and
heated to boiling. The vapour formed continuously
removed and condensed to produce a distillate. Hence,
compositions of the mixture vary with time and there is
no steady state. Calculation of concentration profile of
the mixture is crucial in designing a batch reactor for a
specific distillation process.
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Learning Objectives
Analyze batch distillation for various cases
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Learning Outcomes
Able to apply Rayleigh equation into solving simple
batch distillation problems
Able to use McCabe-Thiele diagram for batch distillation
design
Able to solve problems involving binary batch
rectification with constant reflux and variable distillate
composition
Able to solve problems involving binary batch
rectification with constant distillate composition and
variable reflux
Understand complex batch distillation and effect of
holdup
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Types of Batch Distillation

Single Stage Batch Distillation Multistage Batch Distillation
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Advantages of Batch Distillation

Small capacity (e.g., specialty chemicals)
Intermittent need
Suitable for test run of a new product
Up-stream operations are batch (e.g., alcoholic spirits)
Feed inappropriate for continuous distillation (suspended
solids)
Feed varies widely in composition

Simple Batch Distillation
Characteristics
(Seader,Henley,Roper, Separation
Processes, 3rd Edition)
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no column; a single equilibrium
stage (= the still pot)
single charge (F) to still pot at
time = 0
vapor is withdrawn
continuously
composition of liquid in still pot
(xW) changes continuously
composition of liquid distillate
(xD) changes continuously
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Rayleigh Equation
TMB: F W final Dtotal
CMB: Fx Wx Dx
F w D

D= instantaneous-distillate rate, mol/h

y=yD=xD=mole fraction in instantaneous distillate leaving the still
pot
W= moles of liquid (residue) left in still
X=xw=mole fraction in liquid (residue)
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Rayleigh Equation

For any component in the mixture: instantaneous rate of output=DyD

Instantaneous rate of depletion in the still

Rearranging the equation

Rayleigh Equation
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Rayleigh Equation
K-values are composition independent

K is not constant, K=K(T)

for binary mixture,when relative

volatility is given
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Example 1
Simple Differential Distillation ( Geankoplis, P704)

A mixture of 100mol containing 50 mol% n-pentane and

50 mol% n-heptane is distilled under differential
conditions at 101.3kPa until 40mol is distilled. What is the
average composition of total vapor distilled and the
composition of the liquid left? The equilibrium data are as
follows, where x and y are more fractions of n-pentane:
x y x y x y
1.000 1.000 0.398 0.836 0.059 0.271
0.867 0.984 0.254 0.701 0 0
0.594 0.925 0.145 0.521
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Example 2.
Constant Boilup Rate (Seader, P515)

A batch still is loaded with 100 kmol of a binary mixture of

50 mol% benzene in toluene. As a function of time, make
a plot of :
1. Still temperature
2. Instantaneous vapour composition
3. Still-pot-composition
4. Average total distillate composition
Assume a constant boilup rate, and therefore, constant
D of 10 kmol/h and a constant of 2.41 at a pressure of
101.3kPa.
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Batch Rectification
Constant Reflux Operation

Batch Rectification (Seader,P517)

Batch binary distillation with fixed L/V and 2 theoretical

Seader,P517) stages. (Seader,P517)
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Example 3.
Constant Reflux Operation (Seader, P518)

A three-stage batch rectifier (first stage is the still pot) is

charged with 100kmol of a 20 mol% n-hexane in n-octane
mixture. At a constant-reflux ratio of 1(L/V=0.5), how
many moles of charge must be distilled for an average
product composition of 70 mol% nC6? The phase
equilibrium curve at column pressure is given in Figure
below. If the boilup rate is 10 kmol/h, calculate distillation
time.
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Batch Rectification
Constant Distillate Composition

For small batch-rectification

system, it may be the least
expensive policy.
A more optimal policy is to
maintain a constant V but
continuously vary R to achieve
a const xD that meets the
specific purity.
Assume negligible liquid holdup
and constant molar overflow.
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Example 4.
Constant Distillate Composition (Seader, P519)

A three-stage batch still (boiler and the equivalent of two

equilibrium plates) is loaded with 100kmol of a liquid
containing mixture of 50 mol% n-hexane in n-octane. A
liquid distillate of 0.9 mole-fraction hexane is to be
maintained by continuously adjusting the reflux ratio,
while maintaining a distillate rate of 20kmol/h?
Theoretically, when must distillate accumulation be
stopped? Assume negligible holdup and constant molar
overflow.
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Complex Batch Distillation

Some examples:

Azeotropic Batch Distillation

Complex Batch Distillation

Reactive Batch Distillation

Extractive Batch Distillation

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Effect of Liquid Holdup

Vapor holdup in rectifying column is negligible in batch
distillation because of the small vapor density. This is not
applied to high pressure condition.
Effect of liquid holdup on the trays and in the condensing
and reflux system can be significant especially when a
charge contains low concentrations of one or more
components to be separated.
The effect of holdup in trayed column is greater than in a
packed column because of the lower amount of holdup
in the latter.
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References