[SEGi University]

[Chemical Engineering Lab Practice 1#]

SEGi UNIVERSITY
EXTRACTION OF BENZOIC ACID
Candidates name: Devika a/p Jayapal
Student ID: SCM 019831
Group members name: Noelene Pillay
Ismail
Lecturer/Supervisor: Mr. Ayman William
Date of submission: 13/04/14

ABSTRACT

The objective of this experiment is to determine the overall mass transfer coefficient of
benzoic acid between kerosene and water. The time taken for 10 droplets of water to travel in
kerosene from the top to the surface of water at the bottom of the burette was obtained. 50
droplets of water was added to kerosene to get the concentration and this solution was
neutralized using the sodium hydroxide, NaOH. The amount of sodium hydroxide, NaOH
used for neutralized were also obtained and recorded. By using this sufficient information, the
average time for one droplet and average volume of 50 droplets was determined. Calculation
was done on the average volume of a droplet, the average radius by assuming the droplet is
spherical and the surface area of the droplet (mass transfer area). To calculate the moles of
benzoic acid transferred to one water droplet by the end of its travel down the column was
determined by using the aqueous concentration of benzoic acid which was obtained through
titration. The flux of benzoic acid

NB

through the droplet interface was calculated using

appropriate equation. Lastly the mass transfer coefficient also was calculated using the
suitable equation. From the experiment the mass transfer coefficient was calculated and the
5 m
value obtained is 1.413 X 10 s .

INTRODUCTION
Extraction is a separation technique frequently used in the laboratory mainly to separate one
or more components from a mixture.
Kerosene (Saturated with Benzoic acid)

CB

H2O droplet

C*B

NB

Figure 1.1

Figure 1.1 shows a schematic diagram of a drop of water moving through kerosene saturated
with benzoic acid. In the presence of concentration difference between the benzoic acid in the
kerosene and a water droplet enables the benzoic acid being transferred across the droplet
interface into the water. Thus the molar flux of benzoic acid through the interface, NB
(mol/m2s) can be shown by:

NB = KC (

C * B C B

Where
- C*B is the concentration of benzoic acid in kerosene at saturation

CB

is the average concentration of benzoic acid in the aqueous phase

- KC is the mass transfer coefficient.

In order to determine KC, the value for NB, C*B and

CB

must be known. Basically, the

experiment is designed to determine KC.

In this experiment, water act as extracting agent. A simple extraction process in this
experiment explains that saturated kerosene with benzoic acid is being purified. When the
water droplets travel from top to the bottom, some amount of benzoic acid is being removed.
The rate of benzoic acid transferred from kerosene to the aqueous phase was calculated.
Therefore the concentration of benzoic acid in the extract leaving the burette, the time of
travel and the size of the droplets were used.

APPARATUS
1) Conical flask
2) Pasteur pipette
3) Burette
4) Stirrer
5) Dropper
6) Beaker
7) Stand and clam
8) Filter funnel
9) Kerosene
10) Water
11) Benzoic acid.

PROCEDURES

PROCEDURES
The experimental procedure is as follows:
1.

The 100 ml burette was filled with kerosene saturated with benzoic acid to around
5 cm below the top.

2.

A Pasteur pipette was filled with distilled water.

3.

The pipette was placed within 1 cm of the kerosene surface.

4.

Pipette was squeezed to produce single droplets at a steady stream by maintaining

equal size of the droplets and the droplets was ensured so that it travels at the
centre of the burette.

5.

Step 1-4 was repeated until the kerosene surface is near to the top of the burette.

6.

Aqueous layer was drained out from bottom of the burette, into a beaker.
Precautions was taken to minimize the amount of kerosene drained with the
aqueous solution.

7.

The level of the kerosene-water interface on the burette volume scale was read,
observed and recorded accordingly.

8.

50 droplets were produced as mentioned earlier and the level of the interface again
was observed and recorded.

9.

Step 7-8 was repeated in order to produce a consistent volume change, therefore
three readings were taken.

10.

Time for a droplet to travel from the air-kerosene interface to the bottom of the
column was measured. This measurement was done repeatedly for 10 times.

11.

Steps 7-8 was repeated until 60 ml of aqueous solution is collected.

12.

20 ml of the aqueous solution was pipette into a conical flask, two to three drop of
phenolphthalein was added as indicator, and 0.03 M NaOH titrated to determine
the benzoic acid concentration in the aqueous solution (CB).

13.

10 ml of the kerosene saturated with benzoic acid were pipette into a conical flask
together with 25 ml of water. Two to three drops of phenolphthalein was added as
indicator, 0.03 M NaOH titrated to determine the benzoic acid concentration in
kerosene at saturation (C*B). Titration process were continued slowly to allow
sufficient time for benzoic acid to be extracted into the aqueous phase.

RESULTS
i.
Time taken for 10 droplets

i)

Droplets

Time taken ,
t(s)

5.62

5.21

5.20

4.90

4.67

5.30

4.37

5.80

4.42

10

4.55

Table for benzoic acid concentration in the aqueous solution ( Step 12)

No

Vi (ml)

Vf (ml)

1
2
3

0.1
8.1
15.8

8.1
15.8
24.6

Vf-Vi
(ml)
8.0
7.7
8.8
V avg=

8.0+7.7+ 8.8
=8.17 ml
3

V avg=8.17 ml X

1L
1 m3
X
1000 ml 1000 L

V avg=8.17 X 106 m3

i.

Table for benzoic acid concentration in kerosene at saturation ( Step 13)

No

Vi (ml)

Vf (ml)

1
2
3

0.1
0.0
0.0

44.1
44.1
44.0

V avg=

Vf-Vi
(ml)
43.9
44.1
44.0

43.9+ 44.1+44.1
=44.03 ml
3
3

V avg=44.03 ml X

1L
1m
X
1000 ml 1000 L

V avg=4.40 X 105 m3

ii.

Concentration of 50 droplets

No

Vi (ml)

Vf (ml)

Vi-Vf
(ml)

1
2
3

100.0
97.9
95.9

97.9
95.9
93.5

2.1
2.0
2.4

AVG=

2.1+2.0+2.4
3
V

avg= 2.167 ml
V

CALCULATIONS
a) Average time travelled for each droplet,
50.04

10
5.004 S 5 S
b) Average volume for 50 droplets,
2.1+2.0+2.4

6.5
3

2.167 ml

c) Average volume of a droplet,

2.167

50
0.0434 ml

Converting ml m3 ,
ml1 L
1m3
1000 ml
0.0434
1000 L
4.34 X 108 m3
d) Average surface area of the droplet (mass transfer area),
4
V = r3
3
4
4.34 X 108= r 3
3
3

r=2.17 X 10 m
e) The surface area of the droplet,
2
A=4 r
4 (2.18 X 103 )

5.92 X 105 m2
f) Concentration of benzoic acid in aqueous solution(CB)
NaOH +C 6H5COOH C 6H5COONa + H2O
B= C

A= NaOH
MAVA= MBVB
M V
M A= B B
VA

H5COOH

M A=0.03 M
6

V A =8.17 X 10 m
V B =10 ml X

1L
1 m3
X
=1 X 105 m3
1000 ml 1000 L

C B =M B=

MAV A
VB

0.03 X (8.17 X 106 )

1 X 105

0.132 M

MAVA= MBVB
M V
M A= B B
VA
M A=0.03 M
5

V A =4.4 X 10 m

V B =20 ml X

C B =M B=

1L
1m
X
=2 X 105 m3
1000 ml 1000 L

MAV A
VB
5

0.03 (4 X 10 )
2 X 105

0. 012M

n=( 0.012 ) ( 4.3 X 108 )=5.27 X 1010

moles of benzoic acid transferred

N B = one droplet of water

(mass transfer area)(time of travel )

5.27 X 1010
( 5.92 X 105 ) ( 5 )

1.78 X 106 mols /m2 s

C B=

(C B +C B ,initial )
2

0.012+ 0
2

0.006 M

K C=

NB
C B C B

1.78 X 106
( 0.1320.006 )

1.413 X 105

m
s

DISCUSSION
According to the mass flux formula, mass flux is inversely proportional to mass transfer area.
From the experiment it can be seen clearly that the changes in the diameter of the droplet,
effects the mass transfer area between benzoic acid and water droplet where decrease in
diameter of the droplet eventually drops the mass transfer area. However, this results an
increase in mass flux and mass transfer coefficient.

CONCLUSION
From the experiment the mass transfer coefficient was calculated and the value obtained is
1.413 X 105

m
s . When the experiment was conducted many errors was encountered which

may occurred from human source for example, error in measuring droplets, error in
recording the time, consistency of the sizes of each droplet squeezed and the position of
pipette when squeezing the droplet. This experiment is applicable in industry for the
extraction of solution.

REFFERENCES
1) Extraction of Benzoic Acid Lab Report. 2014. Extraction of Benzoic Acid Lab Report.
[ONLINE] Available at:http://www.scribd.com/doc/51635023/Extraction-of-BenzoicAcid-Lab-Report.

2) Labotary hand book