Starting with a mixture of 15% cyclohexane and 85% toluene, to produce distillat

Question

Starting with a mixture of 15% cyclohexane and 85% toluene, to produce distillate having a purity of greater than

90% cyclohexane, what is the minimum number of theoretical plates that a fractional distillation

apparatus would need? Show a sketch of how you determined this.

How many simple distillations would produce the same result as above?

I rate quickly and fairly please explain.  I think the answers are 3 and 4 but I am not sure, I feel like I'm doing this wrong!

Starting with a mixture of 15% cyclohexane and 85% toluene, to produce distillate having a purity of greater than 90% cyclohexane, what is the minimum number of theoretical plates that a fractional distillation apparatus would need? Show a sketch of how you determined this. How many simple distillations would produce the same result as above? I rate quickly and fairly please explain. I think the answers are 3 and 4 but I am not sure, I feel like I'm doing this wrong!

Explanation / Answer

Starting at the x-axis at the 15 cycl / 85 tol point, draw a line straight up to the liquid curve (the bottom curve). Draw a straight horizontal line over to the vapor curve (the top curve) and back down to the liquid curve.

This is where your second fraction starts. Now draw a line from there over to the vapor curve, and back down to the liquid curve.

For your third fraction, draw another line across from the liquid to the vapor curve, then down to the x-axis.

Now check - are you at the 90 cycl / 10 tol point? If not, draw do a fourth fraction.

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