A distillation column is used to separate a mixture of methanol, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol.  The feed stream, with a mass flow rate of 300 kg/hr, has the following composition: 

Component Species mass density  methanol 395.5 kg/m3 ethanol 197.3 kg/m3 isopropyl alcohol 196.5 kg/m3 

Separation of this mixture of alcohol takes place according to the following specifications: 

 (a) 90% of the methanol in the feed leaves with the distillate stream 

(b) 5% of the ethanol in the feed leaves with the distillate stream 

(c) 3% of the isopropyl alcohol in the feed leaves with the distillate stream.

 

Component methanol ethanol Species mass density 395.5 kg/m 197.3 kg/m isopropyl alcohol 196.5 kg/m