Summary

The main objective of this experiment is to study the vapor-liquid equilibrium for ethanol-water system which was heated to 80 at atmospheric pressure. Samples of the vapor and liquid phases at equilibrium were collected separately to measure the refractive index by Refractometer and hence find their compositions from the supplied calibration curve of refractive index versus volume composition. Five sets of experimental liquid and vapor mole fractions data were taken respectively to compare the experimental and theoretical values of equilibrium compositions with T-xy diagram and xy diagram.

Experimental Set-up

Cotton wool

Spiral condenser

Mercury thermometer

Jacketed condenser

Pathway of vaporized mixture

Tube for returning distillate Distillate collector with glass beads Tap for collecting condensate

Flask with glass beads and ethanol/water mixture

Tap for collecting liquid phase Electric heater

Cold water in Hot water out

Ethanol/water mixture Water for condenser

Figure 1: Apparatus for determination of liquid and vapor phase compositions of a binary system (Ethanol/Water) at equilibrium

Observed data
Equilibrium temperature=80oC Feed solution contained 180ml 95% ethanol with 45ml water Refractive index of feed solution=1.357 Hence, from calibration curve of refractive index versus mole % ethanol, Mole % of ethanol=37.0%

Table 1: Experimental equilibrium composition of liquid and vapor phase ethanol/water system through measurement of refractive index Refractive index 1.358 1.362 1.3575 1.3625 1.357 1.362 1.357 1.362 1.357 1.625

Observation No

Phase l v l v l v l v l v

Mole % ethanol 0.28 0.56 0.26 0.63 0.24 0.56 0.24 0.56 0.24 0.63

2 3 4 5

Sample calculation
Five sets data of mole fraction of ethanol in the vapor and liquid phase at equilibrium was experimentally found. Sample calculation for the 4th data from the graph is stated below.

4th Data At equilibrium temperature of 80oC and atmospheric pressure Experimental mole fraction of ethanol Liquid phase: xexpt = 0.24 Vapor phase: yexpt = 0.56

Theoretical mole fraction of ethanol From T-x-y diagram: Vapor phase: yth = 0.64 Liquid phase: xth = 0.48

From x-y diagram: Vapor phase: yth= 0.54(for experimental liquid phase: xexpt = 0.24) Liquid phase: xth= 0.26 (for experimental vapor phase: yexpt = 0.56)

The experimental vapor and liquid phase compositions about to satisfy the equilibrium y-x graph.

Calculated data
Feed solution contained 180ml 95% ethanol with 45ml water 1. Calculated Composition of feed solution: Weight % ethanol, w = 0.95 Density of 95% ethanol solution, = 0.8015g/cm3 Volume of 95% ethanol taken, V = 180 cm3 Mass of ethanol, mEth = Vw = 1800.950.8015 = 137.06 g Mole of ethanol, nEth =
137.09 46

= 2.98

Mass of water in main solution, mw = 45+ (0.8015180.05) = 52.21 g Mole of water, nw =

52.21 18

= 2.90

Mole % of ethanol =

100% = 50.6 %

2. Measured composition of feed solution Refractive index of feed solution =1.360

Mole % of ethanol=37.0% (According to calibration data)

Result
Theoretical mole fraction of ethanol in liquid and vapor phase for the experimental composition is observed from the x-y graph and T-xy graph for the 5 sets of data

Table 2: Theoretical and experimental equilibrium molar composition of liquid and vapor phase ethanol/water system from T-xy diagram at 80 and 1 atmospheric pressure. Theoretical molar composition 0.48 0.64 0.48 0.64 0.48 0.64 0.48 0.64 0.48 0.64 Experimental molar composition 0.28 0.56 0.26 0.63 0.24 0.56 0.24 0.56 0.24 0.63

Observation No

Phase l v l v l v l v l v

1 2 3 4 5

Table 3: Theoretical equilibrium molar composition of liquid and vapor phase ethanol/water system for corresponding experimental molar composition from x-y diagram at 80 and 1 atmospheric pressure. Experimental molar composition 0.28 0.56 0.26 0.63 0.24 0.56 0.24 0.56 0.24 0.63 Theoretical molar composition from x-y graph 0.56 0.28 0.56 0.40 0.55 0.26 0.55 0.26 0.55 0.42

Observation No

Phase

Phase

l 1 2 3 4 5 v l v l v l v l v

v l v l v l v l v l

The experimental vapor and liquid phase compositions mostly satisfy the equilibrium y-x graph except the 2nd and 5th data which is mentioned in the discussion.