#3 Ethyl acetate can be formed by the vapor-phase esterification of acetic acid
ID: 703769 • Letter: #
Question
#3 Ethyl acetate can be formed by the vapor-phase esterification of acetic acid and ethanol. This reaction was studied using a catalyst and found to be first order in ethanol and zeroth order in acetic acid with a specific reaction rate of 1.2 liter/g cat min. The total molar feed to a reactor is 10 mol/min, the initial pressure is 10 atm and the temperature is 391 K. Assume an equimolar feed and a pressure drop parameter,o, of 0.01/g. 1. Calculate the maximum weight of catalyst that could be used and still maintairn the reactor exit pressure above 1 atm. Determine the catalyst weight necessary to achieve 90 % conversion. 2,Explanation / Answer
A) The rate of reaction is fist order in ethanol and zero order in acteic acid.
The rate of reaction is,
-rA = k CA CB° = kCA
Assume the reaction is Isothermal, so Epsolon = 0, P=Po/10
Therefor, P = Po(1-alpha W)^(1/2)
1 = 10(1-0.01W)^(1/2)
W = 99 g
B) Calculate weight of catalyst for 90% conversion.
Flow is equimolar, total flow is 10 mol/min. The molar flow of ethanol and acetic acid will be 5 mol/min each.
Calculate volumetric feed rate by calculating density of each feed stream at 10 atm and 391 K.
Total volumetric feed rate, FA0 = 32 L/min
Rate of reaction, -rA = kCA
CA = CA0 (1-X) P/Po
P/Po = (1- alpha W)^(1/2)
Therefore, CA = CAo (1-X) (1- alpha W)^(1/2)
Integrate X = 0 to X = 0.9
dX/dW = kCA (1-X) (1-alpha W)^(1/2)
FAo
ln(1/1-X) = (kCAo 2(1-(1-alpha W)^(3/2)) / (FAo 3alpha)
W = 81.43 gm
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