DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING

BATCH DISTILLATION
TONY RICHARD AQUINO DE SOUZA
201300033










08/05/2014
Results and Discussion
The experiment started with the pumping of 8 L of a mixture composed by 80%v/v
water and 20 %v/v methylated spirit (considered as ethanol). The column was operated
at total reflux until it approached the steady-state condition, when the reflux ratio was set
to 50%. Right after that, the pressure drop within the column was 25.5 mbar and later it
established at 18.7 mbar. Once the distillate reached the 150 mL mark, a sample of
100 mL was collected and weighed. Another 150 mL of distillate was collected and the
analysis repeated.
The mass of the first sample was 83.701 g and for the second sample was
83.211 g. Considering the density of methylated spirits as 0.789 g/mL and of water as
0.998 g/mL, it is possible to calculate the concentration of ethanol of the two samples.

=
2
+

100 =
2
+

=
2
+

83.701 =
2

2
+

83.701 = 0.998

2
+0.789

Solving the system, the volume of each component of the mixture was found.
Then the concentration of ethanol in the distillate could be calculated. The same
procedure was repeated for the second sample.
Vethanol for the first sample = 77.03 mL
Cethanol for the first sample = 77.03 %v/v = 50.91 %mol
Vethanol for the second sample = 79.37 mL
Cethanol for the second sample = 79.37 %v/v = 54.33 %mol
Average concentration of ethanol in the distillate = 78.20 %v/v = 52.62 %mol

When the second sample was being deposited in the distillate vessel, the
temperature of all trays and the reboiler was collected and the result is shown in Table
1.


Stage Temperature (C)
Condenser 24.0
Tray 1 79.7
Tray 2 80.2
Tray 3 80.9
Tray 4 80.6
Tray 5 80.8
Tray 6 80.7
Tray 7 81.9
Tray 8 82.9
Reboiler 90.9
Table 1. Temperature of the reboiler and all the column stages during the collection of the
second sample.
It is noticeable that the temperature decreases with the position of the trays in the
column, since the concentration of the most volatile component (ethanol) declines.
Given that 7.7 L (The difference between the feed and the distillate) of mixture
was in the still, it is possible to calculate the residual concentration of ethanol in the
reboiler. According to the specifications, the initial concentration of ethanol was
20%v/v, so 1.6 L of the alcohol was in the feed. Then:

1.6 =

+(0.7703 0.15 +0.7937 0.15 )

= 1.3654

=
1.3654
7.7
= 0.1773 = 17.73%

= 6.25 %