CHAPTER – 7

MATERIAL BALANCE

MAIN REACTION
 N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3

MOLECULAR WEIGHT

N2= 28

3H2= 6

2NH3= 34

Basis – 1000 kg/hr NH3 production

2 mol NH3 required = 1 mol N2

34 kg NH3 required = 28 kg N2

1000 kg NH3 required = (?)

= 1000 × 28 ÷ 34

Theoretical N2 = 823.52 kg/hr N2

But 90% conversion of reaction:

So actual N2 required = 823.52 ÷ 0.9

915.02 kg/hr

Unreacted N2 = 915.02 – 823.52

 = 91.5 kg/hr

2mol NH3 required = 3mol H2

34 kg NH3 required = 6 kg/hr

1000 kg NH3 required = (?)

= 1000 × 6 ÷ 34

= 176.47 kg/hr H 2

But 90% conversion of equation

So actual H2 required = 176.47 ÷ 0.9

= 196.07 kg/hr

Requirement Production
2NH3 = 1000
N2 = 915.02 unreacted N2 = 91.5
H2 = 196.07 unreacted H2 = 19.6
= 1111.09 = 1111.1