TUTORIAL JULY 2018 REACTION ENGINEERING (CKB 20104)

REACTION ENGINEERING (CKB 20104)

TUTORIAL 3
CHAPTER 3: RATE LAWS AND STOICHIOMETRY

1. Given the reaction below as

C2H4 + 3O2 à 2CO2 + 2H2O
a) State the rate law for this reaction if it obeys the elementary rate law. Subsequently determine the
reaction order with respect to the reactant and also the overall order. State the unit for k if given the
concentration unit as mol/dm3 and time in min.
b) State the rate law for this reaction if it stated if obeys non-elementary rate law and it is determined
that the reaction is second order with respect to C2H4 and zero order with respect to O2. State the unit
for k if given the concentration unit as mol/dm3 and time in min.
c) Given the outlet concentrations of C2H4 as 4.5 mol/dm3 and O2 of 1.8 mol/dm3. Calculate the rates of
disappearance of C2H4, O2, CO2 and H2O if the reaction obeys elementary rate law as stated in part
(a). The reaction rate constant is given as 0.5 (unit to be substituted according to answer in part a
above) (Ans: 13.122 mol/dm3.min, 39.366 mol/dm3.min, –26.244 mol/dm3.min and –26.244
mol/dm3.min)

2. The formation of orthonitroanalyine (ONA) an importance intermediate in dyes – called fast orange is
formed from the reaction of orthonitrochlorobenzene (ONCB) and aqueous ammonia. Given the
activation energy as 12.80 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor of 0.05 L/mol.min
NO2 NO2
Cl NH2

+ 2NH3 + NH4Cl

The non-elementary liquid-phase reaction is first order with respect to ONCB and first order with
respect to NH3.
a) Write the rate law for the rate of disappearance of ONCB in terms of concentration. State the unit for
reaction rate constant, k if given the concentration of mol/L and time of min.
b) Calculate the reaction rate constant, k at 50 °C. (Ans: 4.265x10-4 L/mol.min)
c) Determine the rate of reaction at 150 °C, with outlet concentration of ONCB as 2.5 mol/L and NH3 as
1.8 mol/L. (Ans: 5.9175 x 10-3 mol/L.min)
d) Calculate the rate of formation of ammonia using the information in part (c) above (Ans: –0.01182
mol/L.min)

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TUTORIAL JULY 2018 REACTION ENGINEERING (CKB 20104)
3. It is observed that the 5.0 mol/L of A undergo a liquid phase reaction in a 15L batch reactor.

2A + B → 2C
The irreversible reaction follows an elementary rate law. The inlet mixture contains 60 mol% of
reactant B with the remaining mol% of reactant A.
a) Develop a stoichiometric table for the above reaction and subsequently express the outlet
concentration of each species in the reaction. All values should be in function of conversion only by
evaluating numerically all symbols (e.g., ε, Θ, and Ci). (Ans: NT0 = 187.5, NT = 187.5 – 37.5X, 5(1-X),
7.5-2.5X, 5X)
b) Determine the rate of formation of B at 600 K for conversion of A as 40%. Given the reaction rate
constant at 400 K as 0.495 L2/mol2.s with activation energy of 2.5 kcal/mol. (Ans –41.31 mol/L.s)

4. The liquid-phase reaction below is first order with respect to A and first order with respect to B with k
given as 1.7 dm3/mol.min at the reaction temperature.
A + 2B à 2C
The initial concentrations of A and B are 1.8 mol/dm3 and 5.4 mol/dm3 respectively with initial flow rate
of 10 dm3/min.
a) Setup a stoichiometric table for a flow system as a function of conversion evaluating all constant (e.g.,
ε, Θ) (Ans: FT0 = 72, FT = 72 – 18X)
b) Determine the outlet concentration of A, B and C if given conversion of A as 70%. (Ans: 0.54
mol/dm3, 2.88 mol/dm3, 2.52 mol/dm3)

5. Pure ethane at the rate of 10 dm3/min enters the flow reactor at total pressure of 5 atm and 1000K.
The reaction obeys elementary rate law.

C2H6 ® C2H 4 + H 2
a) Set up a stoichiometric table for the following reaction as a function of conversion by evaluating all
constants (e.g., ε, Θ). (Ans: FT0 = 0.61, FT = 0.61 + 0.61X)
b) Determine the rate of formation of H2 at 600 K for conversion of C2H6 as 70%. It is determined that
the activation energy of the reaction as 15.0 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor of 0.5/min. (Ans:
4.446 x 10-4 mol/dm3.min)

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TUTORIAL JULY 2018 REACTION ENGINEERING (CKB 20104)

6. The gas phase pyrolysis of pure ethane, C2H6 to produce ethylene, C2H4 is given as follows:

C2H6 ® C2H4 + H2
The irreversible reaction is carried out isobaric and isothermally in a flow system. From a prior study,
it was determined that the reaction is second order with respect to ethane, C2H6 concentration. You
are the technologist in charge of a newly set up production plant of ethylene. It is targeted that the
total feed rate of ethane, C2H6 used in the reaction as 3.0 million kilogram yearly.
Additional information
Initial volumetric flow rate = 50 dm3/min
Specific reaction rate constant, k = 3.07 dm3/mol.min
Molecular weight of C2H6 = 30.07 g/mol
Assume that the plant operates 24 hours daily for 365 day annually
a) Develop a stoichiometric table for the above reaction (in mo/min). All values should be in function of
conversion, X only by evaluating numerically all symbols (e.g., ε, θ). (Ans: FT0 = 189.82, FT = 189.82 +
189.82X)
b) Express the concentration of each species in the reaction. All values should be in function of
conversion, X only by evaluating numerically all symbols (e.g., ε, θ) (Ans: CA = 3.80(1-X)/(1+X),
3.80X/(1+X)).

7. The gas phase reaction is given as following for an isothermal (1500 oC) isobaric (16.4 atm) flow
system with equimolar feed of N2 and H2. The initial flow rate of nitrogen gas is given as 10 mol/s.

N 2 + 3H 2 → 2NH 3
a) Construct a stoichiometric table for a flow system as a function of conversion evaluating all constant
(e.g., ε, Θ). (Ans: FT0 = 20, FT = 20 - 20X)
b) Calculate the outlet concentration of N2, H2 and NH3 in mol/L if given conversion the conversion of N2
as 20%. (Ans: 0.056 mol/dm3, 0.028mol/dm3, 0.028mol/dm3)

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