et to the trial conditions and the column was allowed to reach equilibrium before any data was taken. It was evident that the column had reached steady state when the cooling water outlet temperature was constant. During this time frame, the condenser was observed to ensure that the capacity was not exceeded. We watched the point in the condenser where the condensation was complete. When this point reached the top of the column, we had reached a maximum boil. A constraint that was placed on the design was not to exceed 110 volts on the variac control. During this period there is a nitrogen blanket on the reboiler to help avoid eruption of the liquid up the column.Once the system reached steady state, we sample both the reflux and reboiler compositions. During our reflux sample collection procedure, we used a metal bucket consisting of a metal tube spiraling through the apparatus and exiting out the bottom of the bucket. The entry point of the metal tube was connected to plastic tubing that could be attached to the sample port. The bucket was filled with ice to promote condensation and/or cooling. This device served as a pseudo condenser to cool the liquid sample we were collecting. Two individuals would attach the condenser device to the top sample port and allow any residual material in the sample line to drain into a waste glass beaker by opening the sample port valves. Once the line was empty, the sample port valve was closed and the waste beaker was replaced with a sample flask and the magnetic actuator was initialed. At that point the sample point valve was re-opened to allow process material to flow out of the system. Once enough material was collected to do a GC analysis the magnetic actuator was terminated and the sample port valve was closed. The sample flask was covered and set aside for GC analysis.The next step was to obtain a bottom sample from the reboiler. A clean flask was connected to the plastic tubing e...
