A plant must distill a mixture containing 75 mole percent methanol and 25 percent water. The overhead product is to contain 99.99 mole percent methanol and the bottom product 0.002 mole percent. The...

A plant must distill a mixture containing 75 mole percent methanol and 25 percent water.

The overhead product is to contain 99.99 mole percent methanol and the bottom product

0.002 mole percent. The reflux ratio at the top of the column is 1.4, and the reflux is at

its bubble point.

Calculate

(a)

the

minimum

number

of

plates;

(b)

the

minimum

reflux

ratio;

(c)

the

number of plates using a total condenser and a reboiler, assuming an average Murphree

plate

efficiency of

100 percent;