Development of a simple method for separation of α-pinene and β-pinene from turpentine oil and designing multicomponent batch distillation columns

Abstract

A simple graphical method has been developed for designing batch fractionating towers for the fractionation of multicomponent mixtures. It can predict with accuracy the amount of high purity cut one can have, with optimum number of plates at optimum reflux ratio. This eliminates the rigorous determinations by computer. The method is equally good in predicting the amount and composition of subsequent cuts of high purity. The accuracy of the method has been established with the practical results from a pilot scale batch fractionating column.