Submission Deadline: 01-06-2026
Complex Engineering Problem
Consider a system for which you have been given the ternary diagram. Acetone (A= solute),
MIK (S= solvent (100% pure)), Water (C = carrier). The feed flowrate and composition can
be seen against your registration number in the Table below.
1. Calculate the flow and composition of the extract and raffinate from:
i. 1st cross-current stage, using a pure solvent flow of 70 kg/hr.
ii. 2nd cross-current stage, with an additional solvent flow of 30 kg/hr.
2. For the overall 2-stage cross-current system, find the:
i. overall recovery
ii. overall concentration of combined extract streams
The objective now is to have a counter-current system so the raffinate leaving in the Nth
stage, RN has yR= 0.015
3. Show the construction on the ternary diagram for the number of equilibrium stages
to achieve yRN = 0.015, given a solvent flow of 28 kg/hr.
4. Calculate the overall recovery and concentration of the extract stream.
5. Plot on the same axes the concentrations in the extract and raffinate streams.
6. Repeat the procedure using two counter current flow stages and find the overall
recovery and concentration of the extract. Compare and discuss the results. Based
on results, propose which operation (cross flow or counter flow) is suitable for the
recovery of Acetone.
Submission Deadline: 01-06-2026
Submission Deadline: 01-06-2026
Criteria Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor Marks
Correct application of mass
balances, equilibrium concepts, Partial
1. Application of Minor Major
stage calculations, and recovery understanding
Extraction Principles calculation/conceptual conceptual/calculation 10
calculations for both cross- with several
& Calculations errors mistakes
current and counter-current errors
systems
Accurate and neat graphical
Basic plotting
2. Use of Ternary construction of mixing points, tie Minor graphical Incorrect or incomplete
with noticeable 10
Diagram lines, operating lines, and inaccuracies graphical work
errors
equilibrium stages
Clear comparison of cross-
3. Engineering current and counter-current Limited
Good comparison with Poor or missing
Analysis & extraction with strong engineering discussion and 10
some justification comparison
Comparison justification and discussion of weak analysis
recovery efficiency
4. Presentation & Well-organized report, proper Minor
Acceptable Poor organization and
Technical units, labeled graphs/figures, and formatting/presentation 10
presentation unclear results
Communication clear presentation of results issues
Submission Deadline: 01-06-2026
Table (Section A) Feed composition and mass flowrate
Feed Composition
Registration Number Feed Flowrate (kg/s)
Acetone (%)
2024-CH-1 75 16
3 77 17
5 79 18
7 81 19
11 83 20
13 85 21
15 87 22
17 89 23
19 91 24
21 93 25
23 95 26
25 97 27
27 99 28
29 101 29
31 103 30
33 105 31
35 107 32
37 109 33
39 111 34
41 113 35
43 115 13
45 117 14.5
49 119 16
51 121 17.5
53 123 19
55 125 20.5
57 127 22
59 129 23.5
61 131 25
63 133 26.5
65 135 28
69 137 28.5
71 139 29
73 141 29.5
75 143 30
77 144 30.5
79 145 31
81 147 15
83 150 16
85 151 17
Submission Deadline: 01-06-2026
87 153 19
89 155 19.5
91 157 20
2023-CH-06 159 20.5
2023-CH-07 161 21
2023-CH-36 163 22
2023-CH-50 165 23
2023-CH-62 167 25
Table (Section B) Feed composition and mass flowrate
Feed Composition
Registration Number Feed Flowrate (kg/s)
Acetone (%)
2023-CH-2 50 16
4 52 17
6 54 18
8 56 19
12 58 20
14 60 21
18 62 22
24 64 23
30 66 24
32 68 25
34 70 26
36 72 27
38 74 28
40 76 29
42 78 30
44 80 31
46 82 32
48 84 33
52 86 34
54 88 35
56 90 13
58 92 14.5
60 94 16
64 96 17.5
66 98 19
68 100 20.5
70 102 22
72 104 23.5
74 106 24
76 108 24.5
78 110 25
80 112 25.5
Submission Deadline: 01-06-2026
82 114 26
84 116 28
86 118 26.5
90 120 27
92 122 27.5