Ternary Phase Diagrams: Example Problems
Try to solve these problems before watching the solutions in the screencasts.
Example Problem 1
A stream of 50% (by mass) acetone and 50% water is mixed with a stream of pure MIBK in an extraction system. The mass feed rate of the acetone/water stream is half that of the MIBK stream. What is the outlet mass of the water-rich phase per mass of water in the feed?
Example Problem 2
A pure solvent (flow rate= 299.4 kg/h) is used to extract a solute from a feed (flow rate= 50.0 kg/h) that is 35% solute and 65% carrier. What are the compositions and flow rates of the extract (the solvent-rich phase leaving the stage) and of the raffinate (the effluent carrier phase from which solute was extracted) streams? The ternary phase diagram is shown below.