Determine minimum solvent flow rate:

It is necessary to process 100 kg/min of a water stream containing 15 percent acetic acid by weight.  Refer to the data in the table below.

(A) How much acid can be extracted in a single equilibrium stage with pure isopropyl ether using (i) 100 kg/min or (ii) 50 kg/min?  Assume negligible solute transfer between the phases.

(B) What is the minimum solvent flow rate that can be used in countercurrent operation to remove 75 percent of the acetic acid in the process stream?

(C) How many countercurrent stages are required to remove 75 percent of the acid using a pure isopropyl ether solvent at a flow rate that is 150 percent of the minimum?

Equilibrium data for the distribution of acetic acid in water and isopropyl ether phases.  xA denotes the mass fraction of acid in the aqueous phase and yA the mass fraction of acid in the organic phase.