CHE 3164 Chemical Reaction Engineering (Tutorial Problems)

Set 5
1a) What reaction schemes and conditions would you use to maximize the selectivity parameters
S for the following parallel reactions:

A+B
D rD = 800e(-2000/T)CA0.5CC
A + C
U1 rU1 = 10e(-300/T)CACC

where D is the desired product and U1 is the undesired product

b) State how you maximize the SDU2 if C were to react with D to form another desired product

D + C
U2 rU2 = 1000e(-8000/T)CCCD

c) For a 2 dm3 laboratory CSTR with CC0 = CA0 = 1 mol/dm3 and v0 = 1 dm3/min, what
temperature would you recommend to maximize ỸD?

2. The elementary liquid phase series reaction A → k1 k2

B → C is carried out in a 500 dm3
batch reactor. The initial concentration of A is 1.6 mol/dm3. The desired product is B and
separation of the undesired product C is very difficult and costly. Because the reaction is carried
out at relatively high temperature, the reaction is easily quenched.

Additional information:
Cost of pure reactant A = $10/mol A
Selling price of pure B = $50/mol B
Separation cost of A from B = $50/mol A
Separation cost of C from B = $30 ( e 0.5CC − 1 )
k1 = 0.4 h-1
k2 = 0.01 h-1

(a) Assuming that each reaction is irreversible, plot the concentration of A, B and C as a function
of time

(b) Calculate the time the reaction should be quenched to achieve the maximum profit.
3. The following liquid phase reactions were carried out in a CSTR at 325 K.

3A
B + C -r1A = k1ACA k1A = 0.7 min-1

2C + A
3D r2D = k2DCC2CA k2D = 0.3 dm6/mol2.min
4D + 3C
3E r3E = k3ECDCC k3E = 0.2 dm3/mol.min

The concentrations measured inside the reactor were CA = 0.10, CB = 0.93, CC = 0.51 and CD =
0.049 all in mol/dm3.
(a) What are r1A, r2A and r3A?
(b) What are r1B, r2B and r3B?
(c) What are r1C, r2C and r3C?
(d) What are r1D, r2D and r3D?
(e) What are r1E, r2E and r3E?
(f) What are the net rates of formation of A, B, C, D and E?1A, r2A and r3A?
(g) The entering volumetric flow rate is 100 dm3/min and the entering concentration of A is 3 M.
What is the CSTR reactor volume?

4. Hydrogen radicals are important to sustaining combustion reactions. Consequently, if

chemical compounds are introduced that can scavenge the hydrogen radicals, the flames can be
extinguished. While many reactions occur during the combustion process, we shall choose CO
flames as a model system to illustrate the process.

O2 → O ⋅ + O ⋅
H 2 O + O⋅ → 2OH ⋅
CO + OH ⋅ → CO2 + H ⋅
H ⋅ +O2 → OH ⋅ +O ⋅

Assume that all reactions are elementary and that the PSSH holds for the O· and OH· radicals.
(a) Derive a rate law for the consumption of CO.

5. The pyrolysis of acetaldehyde is believed to take place according to the following sequence:

k1
CH 3CHO → CH 3 ⋅ +CHO ⋅
k2
CH 3 ⋅ +CH 3 CHO → CH 3 ⋅ +CO + CH 4
k3
CHO ⋅ +CH 3CHO → CH 3 ⋅ +2CO + H 2
k4
2CH 3 ⋅ → C2 H 6

(a) Derive the rate expression for the rate of disappearance of acetaldehyde, -rAC.
(b) Under what conditions does it reduce to –rCH3CHO = kCCH3CHO3/2?