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Experiment #1 DISTILLATION: Cebu Institute of Technology - University Chemical Engineering Department

This document reports on a distillation experiment conducted to determine the reflux ratio required to recover ethanol of a desired specification from an ethanol-water mixture. The experiment involved setting up a glass distillation apparatus and distilling a 30% by weight ethanol-water solution under varying reflux ratios. Experimental data on distillation times and product specifications like temperature and specific gravity were recorded. The objectives of determining the necessary reflux ratio were achieved.

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Ryle Arbon
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70 views5 pages

Experiment #1 DISTILLATION: Cebu Institute of Technology - University Chemical Engineering Department

This document reports on a distillation experiment conducted to determine the reflux ratio required to recover ethanol of a desired specification from an ethanol-water mixture. The experiment involved setting up a glass distillation apparatus and distilling a 30% by weight ethanol-water solution under varying reflux ratios. Experimental data on distillation times and product specifications like temperature and specific gravity were recorded. The objectives of determining the necessary reflux ratio were achieved.

Uploaded by

Ryle Arbon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHE501 – V1

Group 3

Cebu Institute of Technology – University

Chemical Engineering Department

Laboratory Experiment Report #4

Experiment #1 DISTILLATION

Author: Charlotte Louise M. Egos

Date: August 13, 2019

.
CHE501 – V1
Group 3

Objectives

The objective of this experiment is to determine the reflux ration required to recover
ethanol of desired specification from ethanol-water mixture.

Materials/Apparatus/Equipment

 Glass distillation apparatus complete with condenser and reflux flow control
 Steam generation thermometer
 Westphal balance or refractometer
 Ethanol, water

Relevant Theory

Procedures

The vent lines provided were checked if it was opened. The overhead condenser cooling
water supply was turned on. The spherical vessel was charged up to the equator (15L) with 30%
by weight ethanol-water solution. The by-pass around the steam trap was opened and the main
steam supply was carefully turned on. When the initial surge of condensate has cleared, the steam
trap by-pass valve was closed and the team pressure was set 20 psig.

The reflux divider was set for total reflux by closing the product off – take valve. When
the liquid boils in the still, the vapour was passed up the column to the condenser. All the
condensate was passed back to the column. The reboiler steam pressure was adjusted to a value
which gave adequate loading on the packed column. Once the column has settled down to uniform
operation under total reflux, the drain valve was closed on the lower product receiver and the valve
between the product and receivers was closed.
CHE501 – V1
Group 3

The product line valve was fully opened by the reflux adapter and the liquid in the adapter
was allowed to drain to the still. The recycle valve was closed to the still and the time to half fill
the upper product receiver was accurately measured. The product line valve was closed and the
level of the liquid collected on the side of the receiver was marked. The liquid in the cylinder was
then returned to the still by introducing it into the product cycle line to the still. With the valve
between the product receivers closed and the product recycle valve open three – quarters, the
product line valve was opened so as to give a positive reflux ratio. The column was allowed to
settle down for at least 15 minutes. The product recycle valve was closed and the time required to
half fill the upper product receiver was closed. The product was sampled through the lower
receiver. The temperature and the specific gravity was then measured accurately.

Experimental Data Analysis and Discussion


Steam Pressure Trial t1 t2 t3
1 36 min 38 0.05556
25 psi 2
CHE501 – V1
Group 3

Conclusion

The objectives of the experiment were achieved through identifying that the relationship
of the
CHE501 – V1
Group 3

References

 Geankoplis C.J. (2015). Transport Processes and Separation Process: Principles (Includes
Unit Operations), 4th Edition. Singapore: Pearson Education Limited.
 Incropera F.P. (2017). Introduction to Heat Transfer, 5th Edition.

Appendices

Sample Computations

Reflux Ratio

1 1 1 1
− −
𝑡1 𝑡2 36 38
 𝑅 = 1 = 1 = 0.05556
𝑡2 38

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