UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY LAHORE
Department of Polymer and Process Engineering
Continuous Distillation
Column
Mass Transfer Laboratory
Submitted to:
Sir Sajid Naseem
Submitted by:
Muhammad Khizar Shafique 2011-PE-67
Muhammad Umer Farooq 2011-PE-41
Zohaib Ahmad 2011-PE-64
Nabeel Ahmed Khan 2011-PE-57
Dated: 12-03-2014
Contents
1. Experiment Report ............................................................................................. 1
1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Procedure ..................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Calculation .................................................................................................... 2
1. Experiment Report
Use of the refractometer to find out the composition of mixture
obtained from Continuous Distillation Column
1.1 Introduction
Continuous distillation, a type of distillation, is a continuous separation in which
a mixture is fed, without interruption, into the system and separated parts are excluded
continuously as output. Distillation is the separation or partial detachment of a liquid feed
solution or mixture into components by selective boiling/evaporation and condensation.
Distillation results in at least two output components. These components include at least single
volatile fraction, which is boiled and separately captured as vapor condensed to fluid, and
practically usually a bottom (or residuum) fraction, which is least volatile residue that hasn’t
been separately collected as condensed vapor.
1.2 Procedure
A mixture of ethanol and water is used as sample. The sample is added in a
continuous tank. The continuous distillator is then turned on and the apparatus then runs
according to the given parameters. The water and ethanol vapors are separately collected in
tanks. The ethanol is then taken from the tank in a beaker. The sample is taken in a
refractometer and refractive index is calculated. The refractometer measures the critical angle
of the liquid under test and each concentration will show a different critical angle. Now find
refractive index of the liquid in lower tank too. From the refractive index and other parameters
like molecular weight and density, we can accurately calculate the concentrations of both
components of sample mixture.
Refractometer has to be handled carefully, especially when it is analog type. Make a thin film of
liquid on the glass slide in front compartment. Then close the compartment and adjust the right
reflection angle of light source reflector. Then adjust the resolution of screen with the knob
provided on the right side. The refractive index can be calculated from the scale one the upper
side of sample. Take 2-3 readings for accurate results.
Observed Refractive Index = 1.349, 1.35, 1.349
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1.3 Calculation
For 50 mol percent ethanol i.e. 50 mol percent water
Molecular weight of ethanol is 46 g/mol
Molecular weight of water is 18 g/mol
Density of ethanol is 789 kg/m³ Density of water is 1000 kg/m³
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