Referring to the extraction process in Figure $17\mathrm{.}14,$ explain the problems that would occur with the extraction system if the distillation tower failed to separate the ethyl acetate and acetic acid, and there was a significant concentration of acetic acid in the recycled ethyl acetate stream.

Figure $17\mathrm{.}14$ Control diagram.

CREDIT: Adapted from EnVision$-$GSE Solutions.