CHE 430 Fall 21

Homework #4
THERE ARE 4 PROBLEMS
Due: Friday, Sept 24th at 11:59 PM EST through Canvas

1) Variable Volumetric Flowrates in PFR. The reaction

A→B+C+D
is taking place in the gas phase in an ideal, isothermal PFR at constant total pressure. The reaction
temperature and pressure are 450 K and 1 atm, respectively. At these conditions, the gas mixture
obeys the ideal gas law. The rate equation is
kC A
− rA =
1 + K AC A

The volume of the reactor is 1500 L, and the molar flowrate of A is 400 mol/h. The mole fraction
of A in the feed stream is 0.50. At 450 K, k = 40 h-1 and KA = 50 L/mol-A. What is the fractional
conversion of A in the stream leaving the PFR?

2) Equilibrium Conversion (part of a previous exam problem). The gas-phase isomerization of

o-xylene to the more stable p-xylene is occurring reversibly with an equilibrium constant based on
concentration, 𝐾𝐾𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 in the pores of ZSM-5 (a type of zeolite catalyst).

Typically, small molecules do not behave as ideal gases in the small pores of the zeolites where
the isomerization reaction takes place, but for this analysis, you can assume that the isomers of
toluene behave as ideal gases. Your co-worker at Exxon-Mobil measured the free energy of this
reaction, ∆Grxn

to be – 6 kJ mol-1 and appeared independent of temperature over a 1000 K
temperature range. At what temperature will the equilibrium conversion, Xeq for this isomerization
reaction be equal to 0.8?
3. Previous CHE 430 exam problem. The isomerization of 1-butanol (A) to isobutanol (B) is
conducted over acid resin catalyst in the gas phase under conditions where both butanol isomers
can be treated as ideal gases.

From a paper published in Chemical Engineering Science, the following data on the equilibrium
of the 1-butanol isomerization reaction has been reported. At 150°C, the equilibrium pressure of
A is 0.23 atm and B is 0.77 atm.

Additionally, the same paper examined the kinetics of isomerization and found the over a wide
range of conditions, the net rate for the disappearance of 1-butanol (A) had the following form
− rA = k f C A − kr CB where kf = 7.7 L/gcat-min at 150°C

Pure reactant A is fed into the reactor with a molar flow rate of 134 mol/min at a total pressure of
1.0 atm.
a. What is the amount (in g) of acid resin catalyst necessary to produce a stream exiting a
packed bed reactor (PBR) with an isobutanol (B) partial pressure of 0.15 atm. The reactor
temperature is set to 150°C.
b. The ∆Grxn for 1-butanol isomerization can be considered independent of temperature. A
van’t Hoff analysis of the 1-butanol isomerization reaction has shown that the reaction is
exothermic (∆H < 0). In order to increase the equilibrium conversion, Xeq of the 1-butanol
isomerization reaction, should the PBR be operated at a LOWER (100°C) or HIGHER
(200°C) temperature? Provide justification* for your answer.
*Justification can amount to an explanation using what you know about thermodynamics of
reaction equilibria OR a direct comparison by calculation of the equilibrium conversions at the
two different temperatures.
4. (previous exam problem) A two reactor cascade is to be used to convert species A to
species B and C.

The first reactor is a PBR and contains a catalyst that catalyzes the irreversible reaction A → B.
The second reactor is a CSTR containing a catalyst that catalyzes the reversible reaction B ↔ 2C.
All species can be treated as ideal gases.

The feed is pure A at 10 mol/min at 400 K and 10 atm. The final output of the reactor cascade
produces 3 mol/min of B and 10 mol/min of C.

PFR: Operates isothermally at 400 K and 10 atm. The rate of disappearance of A is first order in
A with a reaction rate constant of 1.761 L/gcat-min at 400 K.

CSTR: Operates isothermally at 600 K and 5 atm. The forward rate is first order in B with a rate
constant of 5 L/gcat-min. The equilibrium constant is 2 mol/L. The reverse reaction is 2nd order in
C.
Note only given values are included in the diagram (ie, you might recognize that FA is not 0 in the
final exit).

a. What is the weight (in grams) of catalyst required in the PBR?

b. What is the weight (in grams) of catalyst required in the CSTR?
c. What is the volumetric flow rate at the exit of the CSTR?