Question: The separation of benzene (B) from cyclohexane (C) by distillation at 1 atm is impossible because of a minimum-boiling-point azeotrope at 54.5 mol% benzene. However,

The separation of benzene (B) from cyclohexane (C) by distillation at 1 atm is impossible because of a minimum-boiling-point azeotrope at 54.5 mol% benzene. However, extractive distillation with furfural is feasible. For an equimolar feed, cyclohexane and benzene products of 98 and 99 mol%, respectively, can be produced. Alternatively, the use of a three-stage pervaporation process, with selectivity for benzene using a polyethylene membrane, has received attention, as discussed by Rautenbach and Albrecht [47]. Consider the second stage of this process where the feed is 9,905 kg/h of 57.5 wt% B at 75°C. The retentate is 16.4 wt% benzene at 67.5"C and the permeate is 88.2 wt% benzene at 27.5oC. The total permeate mass flux is 1.43 kg/m2-h and the selectivity for benzene is 8. Calculate the flow rates of retentate and permeate in kg/h and the required membrane surface area in m2.

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