Figure 1: Hippo digestive system for Question 1.

Table 1: Data for Hippo for Question 1.b

Data
Average Volumetric Flowrate Q (L/day) 25
Molar Concentration of A (grass) C𝑨𝑶 2
(mol/L)
Volume CSTR 𝑽𝑪𝑺𝑻𝑹 (L) 0.43
*Digestive System Overall Conversion (%) 45
*75% of the Overall Conversion Occurs in the CSTR

a) At what concentration is the reaction rate evaluated: the inlet/ tank/exit concentration
for a CSTR (Continuously stirred tank reactor) and why?
b) Hippos have three-chambered stomachs consisting of the parietal blind sac, the
stomach, and the glandular stomach. Your biomedical company for animal care,
Animal BioCare, is studying the baby hippopotamus’s digestive system. Your company
models the steady-state hippopotamus digestive system as a CSTR (which includes all
three stomachs) and a PFR (intestines) in series.
The first-order reaction A P is conducted isothermally in the dilute aqueous
solution as shown in Figure 1. The first-order reaction occurs in both reactors. The rate
constant is the same for both of the reactors. The data for the system is found in Table
1.

i. Determine the exit concentration of CA in stream 3.

[Answer: 1.1 mol/L]
ii. Determine the value of the rate constant. [Answer:
29, 62 Day-1]
iii. From the first principle obtain an expression for the required volume (V) of the
plug flow reactor (PFR).
iv. Evaluate the expression obtained in (c) to determine the volume required for the
plug flow reactor. [Answer:
0.157 L]
v. Comment about the volume of the CSTR and PFR for the baby hippopotamus
digestive system. [1
Mark]
vi. Explain briefly what would happen if we took VPFR and divided it into many
smaller PFRs such that the total volume equalled the volume of VPFR.
[1 Mark]
vii. Explain briefly what would happen if we took VCSTR and divided it into many
smaller CSTRs such that the total volume equalled the volume of VCSTR.
[1 Mark]
viii. If the reaction in the stomach were A+B P, write down the reaction rate
for A as a second-order reaction. [1
Mark]