At 45oC, 5,000 kg/h of a mixture of 65 wt% docosane, 7 wt% furfural, and 28 wt%

Question:

At 45oC, 5,000 kg/h of a mixture of 65 wt% docosane, 7 wt% furfural, and 28 wt% diphenylhexane is to be extracted with pure furfural to obtain a raffinate with 12 wt% diphenylhexane in a continuous, countercurrent, multistage liquid-liquid extraction system. Phase-equilibrium data for this ternary system are given in Exercise 8.15. Determine:

(a) The minimum flow rate of solvent.

(b) The flow rate and composition of the extract at the minimum solvent flow rate.