CONSTANT UNDERFLOW LEACHING

1. Tung meal containing 55 weight % oil is to be extracted at a rate of 4000 lb/hr using n-hexane containing 5 wt% oil as
solvent. A countercurrent multi-stage extraction system is to be used. The meal retains 2 lbs of solvent per lb of oil free
meal. The residual charge contains 0.11 lb oil per pound of oil-free meal while the product is composed of 15% wt oil.
Determine the number of ideal stages.

Extract, V1 Va Extracting Solvent, Vb

15% wt oil ya yb* n-hexane
y1 = ya* + 5% oil
1 a N-1 N b yb

Tung Meal Raffinate

4000 lb/hr xa = ya* La xb=yb* (exhausted solid)

2 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 0.11 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
55 % wt oil 𝑅𝑅 =
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 −𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 −𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

Lb

REQUIRED: Number of ideal stages, N

SOLUTION:
2 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
Since 𝑅𝑅 = , then Leaching is Constant Underflow and CONSTANT SOLVENT RETENTION
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 −𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
Using Tiller Tour Equation:
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 − 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 �
𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 − 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗ �
𝑁𝑁 − 1 = 𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗= 𝑥𝑥𝑏𝑏 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗= 𝑥𝑥𝑎𝑎
𝑦𝑦 − 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � 𝑏𝑏 �
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ −𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
Note: 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑦𝑦 =
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔,𝐿𝐿′ 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔,𝑉𝑉′

For yb:
𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏 0.05
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 = = = 0.0526
𝑛𝑛 − ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏 0.95
For yb*:

𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ = 𝑥𝑥𝑏𝑏
𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝐿𝐿𝑏𝑏
𝑥𝑥𝑏𝑏 =
𝑛𝑛 − ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝐿𝐿𝑏𝑏
0.11 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 − 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ = 𝑥𝑥𝑏𝑏 = = 0.055
2 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 − 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

For ya*:
 0.15
𝒚𝒚𝒂𝒂 ∗ = = 0.1765
0.85
Around the whole system:
Solvent Balance:
𝐿𝐿𝑜𝑜 ′ + 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏 ′ = 𝑉𝑉1′ + 𝐿𝐿𝑏𝑏 ′
0 + 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏 ′ = 𝑉𝑉1′ + 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿′
2 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
But 𝐿𝐿𝑏𝑏 ′ = (0.45)(4000)𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 = 3600 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙/ℎ𝑟𝑟
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 −𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
0 + 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏 ′ = 𝑉𝑉1′ + 3600 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 1

Oil Balance:

𝑥𝑥𝑜𝑜 𝐿𝐿𝑜𝑜 ′ + 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏′ = 𝑦𝑦1 𝑉𝑉1′ + 𝑥𝑥𝑏𝑏 𝐿𝐿𝑏𝑏 ′

0.55(4000) + 0.0526 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏 ′ = 0.1765𝑉𝑉1′ + 0.055(3600) 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 2

Solving eqn 1 and 2 simultaneously:

𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏 ′ = 21286.5214 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙/ℎ𝑟𝑟
𝑉𝑉1′ = 17686.5214 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙/ℎ𝑟𝑟
Around Stage 1
Oil balance
𝑥𝑥𝑜𝑜 𝐿𝐿′𝑜𝑜 + 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 𝑉𝑉𝑎𝑎′ = 𝑥𝑥𝑎𝑎 𝐿𝐿′𝑎𝑎 + 𝑦𝑦1 𝑉𝑉1′
Due to constant underflow system, La’=Lb’ and Va’=Vb’; Also xa=ya*

0.55(4000) + 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 (21286.5214) = 0.1765(3600) + 0.1765(17686.5214)

𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 = 0.0731
𝑦𝑦 − 𝑦𝑦 ∗
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 − 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ �
𝑎𝑎 𝑎𝑎
𝑁𝑁 = +1
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 − 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � �
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ −𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗
0.0526 − 0.055
ln � �
𝑁𝑁 = 0.0731 − 0.1765 + 1
0.0526 − 0.0731
ln �
0.055 − 0.1765 �
𝑁𝑁 = 3.1147 = 4 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
2. A countercurrent multiple contact extraction system is to treat 50 tons/hr of wet sliced sugar beets, with fresh water as
solvent. The beets have the following analysis : 48 wt % water, 40 wt% pulp and 12 wt% sugar. The strong solution
leaving the system is to contain 0.15 fraction sugar and 97% of the sugar in the sliced beets is to be recovered.
Determine the number of extraction cells required, assuming equilibrium between the underflow and overflow in each
cell
a. If each ton of dry pulp retains 3 tons of water
b. If each ton of dry pulp retains 3 tons of solution

GIVEN:

Extract, V1 Va Extracting Solvent, Vb

15% wt sugar ya yb* Freshwater
y1 = ya* +
(97% recovery) 1 a N-1 N b yb

Wet Sliced Raffinate

Sugar Beets xa = ya* La xb=yb* (exhausted solid)
50 tons/hr Lb
48 wt% water
40% wt pulp
12 % wt sugar

REQUIRED: Number of ideal stages if

3 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤
a. 𝑅𝑅 =
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
3 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
b. 𝑅𝑅 =
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
SOLUTION:
a. CONSTANT SOLVENT UNDERFLOW
For yb, since extracting solvent is pure, 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 = 0
For yb*, since 97% was recovered that means that 3 % of the original sugar was left in the raffinate
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝐿𝐿𝑏𝑏
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ = 𝑥𝑥𝑏𝑏 =
𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝐿𝐿𝑏𝑏
0.03[(0.12)(50)]𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ =
3 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤
(0.40)(50)𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ = 3 𝑥𝑥 10−3
For ya*
0.15
𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗ = = 0.1765
0.85
For ya
Around the whole system:
Solvent balance:
𝐿𝐿𝑜𝑜 ′ + 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏 ′ = 𝑉𝑉1′ + 𝐿𝐿𝑏𝑏 ′
3 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤
But 𝐿𝐿𝑏𝑏 ′ = (0.40)(50)𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = 60 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡/ℎ𝑟𝑟
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
 0.48(50) + 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏 ′ = 𝑉𝑉1′ + 60 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 1
Sugar balance:
𝑥𝑥𝑜𝑜 𝐿𝐿′𝑜𝑜 + 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏′ = 𝑦𝑦1 𝑉𝑉1′ + 𝑥𝑥𝑏𝑏 𝐿𝐿′𝑏𝑏
0.12(50) + 0 = 0.1765𝑉𝑉1′ + 3𝑥𝑥10−3 (60) 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 2

𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
𝑉𝑉1′ = 32.9745
ℎ𝑟𝑟
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏 ′ = 68.9745
ℎ𝑟𝑟
Around Stage 1
Sugar balance
𝑥𝑥𝑜𝑜 𝐿𝐿′𝑜𝑜 + 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 𝑉𝑉𝑎𝑎′ = 𝑥𝑥𝑎𝑎 𝐿𝐿′𝑎𝑎 + 𝑦𝑦1 𝑉𝑉1′
Due to constant underflow system, La’=Lb’ and Va’=Vb’; Also xa=ya*
0.12(50) + 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 (68.9745) = 0.1765(60) + 0.1765(32.9745)
𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 = 0.1509
Using Tiller Tour Equation:
𝑦𝑦 − 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � 𝑏𝑏
𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 − 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗ �
𝑁𝑁 = +1
𝑦𝑦 − 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � 𝑏𝑏 �
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ −𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗
0 − 3𝑥𝑥10−3
ln �
0.1509 − 0.1765�
𝑁𝑁 = +1
0 − 0.1509
ln � �
3𝑥𝑥10−3 − 0.1765
𝑁𝑁 = 16.3624 = 17 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠

b. CONSTANT SOLUTION UNDERFLOW

3 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
Since 𝑅𝑅 = , then Leaching is Constant Underflow and CONSTANT SOLUTION RETENTION
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝

𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠

Note: 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑦𝑦 =
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔,𝑳𝑳 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔,𝑽𝑽

For yb, 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 = 0

For yb*,
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝐿𝐿𝑏𝑏
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ = 𝑥𝑥𝑏𝑏 =
𝐿𝐿𝑏𝑏
0.03[0.12(50)]𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ =
3 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
[0.40(50)]𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ = 3𝑥𝑥10−3
For ya*
𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗ = 0.15
For ya
 Around the whole system:
Solution balance:
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 + 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 = 𝑉𝑉1 + 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿
3 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
But 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = [0.40(50)]𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 = 60 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡/ℎ𝑟𝑟
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 + 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = (0.48 + 0.12)(50)𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 30 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡/ℎ𝑟𝑟

30 + 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 = 𝑉𝑉1 + 60 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒1

Sugar balance:
𝑥𝑥𝑜𝑜 𝐿𝐿𝑜𝑜 + 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏 = 𝑥𝑥𝑏𝑏 𝐿𝐿𝑏𝑏 + 𝑦𝑦1 𝑉𝑉1
0.12(50) + 0 = 3𝑥𝑥10−3 (60) + (0.15)𝑉𝑉1 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 2
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
𝑉𝑉1 = 38.8
ℎ𝑟𝑟
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡
𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 = 68.8
ℎ𝑟𝑟
Around stage 1:
𝑥𝑥𝑜𝑜 𝐿𝐿𝑜𝑜 + 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 𝑉𝑉𝑎𝑎 = 𝑥𝑥𝑎𝑎 𝐿𝐿𝑎𝑎 + 𝑦𝑦1 𝑉𝑉1
Due to constant underflow system, La=Lb and Va=Vb; Also xa=ya*
(0.12)(50) + 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 (68.8) = 0.15(60) + 0.15(38.8)
𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 = 0.1282
Using Tiller Tour Equation:
𝑦𝑦 − 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � 𝑏𝑏
𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 − 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗ �
𝑁𝑁 = +1
𝑦𝑦 − 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � 𝑏𝑏 �
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ −𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗
0 − 3𝑥𝑥10−3
ln �
0.1282 − 0.15�
𝑁𝑁 = +1
0 − 0.1282
ln � �
3𝑥𝑥10−3 − 0.15
𝑁𝑁 = 15.4934 = 16 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
 3. A continuous countercurrent multi-stage system is to be used to leach oil from meal by benzene solvent. The
process is to treat a meal containing 2000kg/hr of inert solid, 800 kg/hr or oil and 50 kg/hr benzene. The inlet flow
per hour of fresh solvent mixture contains 1310 kg benzene and 20 kg oil per hour. The leached solids are to
contain 120 kg/hr oil. Calculate the exit flows and compositions and the number of stages required if retention is
1.85 kg solid per kg solution.

GIVEN: Overflow

Extract, V1 Va Benzene Solvent, Vb ; yb

(y1 = ya*) ya yb* 1310 kg benzene
20 kg oil
1 a N-1 N b

Feed Raffinate, R
2000 kg/hr inert solid xa = ya* La xb=yb* (exhausted solid)
800 kg/hr oil 120 kg/hr oil
50 kg/hr benzene Lb =solution in raffinate
Underflow RETENTION: 1.85 kg solid/ kg solution.

***Note: Solution refers to solvent + solute (it doesn’t include the solids)

REQ’D: a) V1 , Lb , ya* , xb
b) N

SOL’N: Assume: 1 hour steady state operation

CONSTANT SOLUTION RETENTION y1 = ya* , xb=yb*
1 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
Lb = 𝑥𝑥 2000 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = 1081.0811 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
1.85 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
120 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
xb=yb*= = 0.1110
1081 .0811 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
Oil Blalance: oil in feed + oil in solvent = oil in extract + oil in raffinate
800 kg + 20 kg = oil in extract + 120 kg
Oil in extract = 700 kg oil
Material Balance : Solution Balance Around the System
Solution in feed + solvent solution =extract solution + solution in raffinate
(800 + 50)kg + (1310+20 )kg = V1+ 1081.0811 kg
V1 = 1098.9189 kg extract solution
𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 700 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
y1 = ya* = = = 0.6370
𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 1098.9189 kg

Material Balance Around Stage 1

Oil Balance: oil in feed + Vaya = oil in extract + Laxa but Va = Vb; La = Lb ; y1 = ya*
700 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
800 kg oil + (1310 +20) ya = 700 kg oil + (1081.0811 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑥𝑥 )
1098.9189 kg solution
ya = 0.4426
𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 20
yb = = = 0.0150
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 1310 +20
 Number of Ideal Stages (N)
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 − 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 �
𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 − 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗ �
𝑁𝑁 − 1 = 𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗= 𝑥𝑥𝑏𝑏 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗= 𝑥𝑥𝑎𝑎
𝑦𝑦 − 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � 𝑏𝑏 �
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ −𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗

0.0150 −0.1110
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � �
𝑁𝑁 − 1 = 0.4426 −0.6370
0.0150 −0.4426 ; N = 4.4067 stages
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � �
0.1110 −0.6370

4. A treated ore containing inert solid gangue and copper sulphate is to be leached in a countercurrent multi-stage
extractor using water to leach the CuSO4. The solid charge rate per hour consists of 10,000 kg of inert gangue,
1200 kg CuSO4 and 400 kg water. The exit wash solution is to contain 92 wt% water and 8 wt% CuSO4. A total of
95 % CuSO4 in the inlet ore is to be recovered. The underflow is constant at 0.5 kg inert gangue solid per kg of
aqueous solution. Calculate the number of stages.

GIVEN: Overflow

Extract, V1 Va Water Solvent, Vb ; yb

(y1 = ya*) ya yb*

92 wt% water 1 N-1 N

8 wt% CuSO4
a b

Feed Ore Raffinate, R

10, 000 kg inert gangue xa = ya*La xb=yb* Lb =solution in raffinate
1200 kg CuSO4
400 kg water 95 % CuSO4 recovery(5% of original CuSO4is present at the raffinate)
Underflow RETENTION: 0.5 kg inert gangue/ kg aqueous solution.

REQ’D: N

SOL’N: Assume: 1 hour steady state operation, assume fresh water solvent so yb = 0
CONSTANT SOLUTION RETENTION

𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 − 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 �
𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 − 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗ �
𝑁𝑁 − 1 = 𝑤𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗= 𝑥𝑥𝑏𝑏 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗= 𝑥𝑥𝑎𝑎
𝑦𝑦 − 𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 � 𝑏𝑏 �
𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗ −𝑦𝑦𝑎𝑎 ∗

ya*= 0.08

yb = 0
 CuSO 4 in extract CuSO 4 in extract
95 % recovery = 𝑥𝑥 100; 95 % recovery = 𝑥𝑥 100; CuSO4 in extract =
𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 CuSO 4 in feed 1200 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
1140 kg

1140 kg = 0.08 (amount of extract); amount of extract = 14,250 kg extract = V1

5% CuSO4 is present at the raffinate = 0.05 x 1200 kg CuSO4 = 60 kgCuSO4

1 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 aqueous solution .
Lb = 𝑥𝑥 10,000 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 = 20,000 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟
0.5 kg inert gangue

𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶4 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 60 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

𝑦𝑦𝑏𝑏 ∗= 𝑥𝑥𝑏𝑏 = = = 0.003
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 20,000 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

TMB around the whole system : Solution Balance

Solution in feed + solvent solution = extract solution + solution in raffinate

(1200 +400) + Vb = 14,250 + 20,000

Vb = 32,650 kg solvent

Material Balance Around Stage 1

CuSO4 Balance: CuSO4 in feed + Vaya =CuSO4in extract + Laxa ; but Va = Vb ; La = L b ; y1 = ya*

1200 kg + (32,650) ya = 1140 kg + 20,000 kg (0.08)

ya = 0.0472
0 − 0.003
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 �0.0472 − 0.08�
𝑁𝑁 − 1 = =; 𝑁𝑁 = 5.8871 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
0 − 0.0472
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 �0.003 − 0.08�