In the first step in the manufacture of the over-the counter pain medication ibu

Question

In the first step in the manufacture of the over-the counter pain medication ibuprofen, isobutylbenzene (C10H14) and acetic anhydride (C4H6O3) react over a hydrogen catalyst to make isobutylacetophenone (C12H16O), with acetic acid (CH3COOH) as the byproduct.

C10H14 + C4H16O-----> C12H16) + CH3COOH

1200 gmol isobutylbenzene/h and 1200 gmol acetic anhydride/h are fed to a continous-flow steady state reactor. Chemical analysis of the exit stream from the reactor reveals that the stream contains 42 mol% acetic acid. What is the rate of consumption of isobutylbenzene inside the reactor? What is the flow rate of isobutylbenzene out of the reactor? What is the fractional conversion?

Explanation / Answer

C10H14 + C4H16O-----> C12H16) + CH3COOH before reaction a a 0 0 after reaction 1-a 1-a a a mol% of acetic acid = a/(1-a+1-a+a+a) = a/2 = 42% a = 0.94 rate of consumption of isobutylbenzene = 0.94*1200 = 1128 gmol/hr flow rate of isobutylbenzene out of the reactor = 1200 -1128 = 72gmol/hr fractional conversion = 0.94

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