In: Chemistry
A mixture of furfural (C5H4O2) and water is maintained at VLE at 1.013 bar and 109.5°C. It is observed that at equilibrium, the water content of the liquid is 10 mol% and the vapor is 81 mol% water. The mixture is then cooled to 100.6°C (holding pressure constant), and some (but not all) of the vapor condenses. Assuming that the vapor phase is ideal, and the liquid-phase activity coefficients are independent of temperature but dependent on concentration (HINT: thus, assume that the Van Laar equations describe VLE), estimate the equilibrium vapor and liquid compositions at the new temperature. Clearly state any assumptions. You have the following data:
PH20sat(T = 109.5°C) = 1.4088 bar Pfurfuralsat(T = 109.5°C) = 0.1690 bar
PH20sat (T = 100.6°C) = 1.0352 bar Pfurfuralsat (T = 100.6°C) = 0.1193 bar
The above equation is used to estimate the equilibrium vapor and liquid compositions at the new temperature.
Vapor-liquid equilibrium diagram (phase diagram)
Calculated vapor-liquid equilibrium data;
Temperature; furfural (C5H4O2); water