Trace amounts of phenol are to be extracted from an aqueous stream (Phase I) using pure xylene as a solvent. From data in the Chemical Engineers’ Handbook we have M = 1.4.
a. What xylene/water flow ratio is required to remove 90 percent of the phenol in a single equilibrium stage?
b. Suppose two equilibrium stages are to be used, using the aqueous effluent from Stage 1 as a feed to Stage 2. What xylene/water flow ratio is required for each stage?