Chemical Reaction Engineering: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 8 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Reaction kinetics

First order
ln(CA/CA0) = −kt
Half-life (first order)
t½ = ln 2/k
Second order
1/CA = 1/CA0 + kt
Arrhenius
k = A·e−Ea/(RT)
Two temperatures
ln(k2/k1) = (Ea/R)(1/T1 − 1/T2)

Reactor sizing (CSTR & PFR)

Space time
τ = V/Q
CSTR, first order
τ = X/(k·(1 − X)), CA = CA0/(1 + kτ)
PFR, first order
τ = ln(1/(1 − X))/k, CA = CA0·e−kτ
Conversion from volume
CSTR: X = kτ/(1 + kτ), PFR: X = 1 − e−kτ
N equal CSTRs in series
X = 1 − 1/(1 + kτi)N

Chemical equilibrium

Equilibrium constant
Kc = [C]c[D]d/([A]a[B]b)
ICE table
Initial, Change (×coefficient), Equilibrium
Quadratic
x = (−b + √(b² − 4ac))/(2a)

Method

  1. Write Kc with products over reactants, each raised to the power of its coefficient.
  2. Set up an ICE table: Initial, Change (in steps of x times the coefficients), Equilibrium.
  3. Put the equilibrium expressions into Kc and solve for x.
  4. Check whether x is small enough for an approximation; otherwise solve the quadratic.

Mass balance

Steady state
in = out
Total balance
ṁ1 + ṁ2 = ṁ3
Component balance
ṁ1x1 + ṁ2x2 = ṁ3x3
Evaporator
F·xF = P·xP, W = F − P

2Practice problems

1.Reaction kineticsMedium
t (min)C (mol/L)10 min0.5

In a first-order reaction the concentration of A falls from 1 mol/L to 0.5 mol/L in 10 min. Find the rate constant k.

CA0 = 1 mol/LCA = 0.5 mol/Lt = 10 min
k = min⁻¹
2.Reaction kineticsHard
1/Tln kT = 100 °Cln 0.002ln A = ?Ea​ = 50 kJ/mol

A first-order reaction has a rate constant of 0.002 s⁻¹ at 100 °C and an activation energy of 50 kJ/mol. Find the pre-exponential factor A in the Arrhenius equation.

k = 0.002 s⁻¹T = 100 °CEa = 50 kJ/molR = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
A = s⁻¹
3.Reactor sizing (CSTR & PFR)Medium
Q = 40 L/minX = 85%V = ?, k = 0.15 min⁻¹

A first-order liquid-phase reaction A → B with k = 0.15 min⁻¹ is carried out in a plug-flow reactor (PFR) fed at 40 L/min. The density is constant and the reactor is at steady state. Find the reactor volume V in litres for 85% conversion of A.

Q = 40 L/mink = 0.15 min⁻¹X = 85%
V = L
4.Reactor sizing (CSTR & PFR)Hard
Q = 50 L/minX = ?V = 200 L

A first-order liquid-phase reaction (k = 0.5 min⁻¹) runs in a 200 L plug-flow reactor (PFR) fed at 50 L/min. The density is constant and the reactor is at steady state. Find the conversion X in percent.

V = 200 LQ = 50 L/mink = 0.5 min⁻¹
X = %
5.Chemical equilibriumMedium
H2​I2​HII0.250.250C−x−x+2xE0.25 − x0.25 − x2x

0.25 mol/L of H₂ and 0.25 mol/L of I₂ are put in a container and react: H₂ + I₂ ⇌ 2HI, with Kc = 25. Find the equilibrium concentration [HI].

[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 0.25 mol/LKc = 25
[HI] = mol/L
6.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl5​PCl3​Cl2​I0.100C−x+x+xE0.1 − xxx

PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.1 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 0.1 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [PCl5].

[PCl₅]₀ = 0.1 mol/LKc = 0.1
[PCl5] = mol/L
7.Mass balanceMedium
MixerStream 1850 kg/h · 45% NaOHStream 2ṁ₂ = ? · 10% NaOHProduct15% NaOH

How much of stream 2 must be added each hour to stream 1 so that the blended product contains 15% NaOH? Find ṁ2.

ṁ1 = 850 kg/hx1 = 45 %x2 = 10 %x3 = 15 %
ṁ2 = kg/h
8.Mass balanceHard
EvaporatorFeed F2000 kg/h · 8% NaOHProduct PP = ? · 65%Vapour W (pure water)0% NaOH

An evaporator concentrates a NaOH solution by boiling off pure water. Find the product flow P in kg/h.

F = 2000 kg/hxF = 8 %xP = 65 %
P = kg/h

3Solutions

1.Reaction kinetics

Answer: k = 0.06931 min⁻¹

Integrated rate laws: zero order: C = C₀ − kt (straight line, t½ = C₀/(2k)); first order: ln(C₀/C) = kt (t½ = ln 2/k); second order: 1/C − 1/C₀ = kt (t½ = 1/(kC₀)). Conversion X means C = C₀(1 − X).

Integrated first-order law

k = ln(CA0/CA)/t = ln(1/0.5)/10 = 0.6931/10 = 0.06931 min⁻¹

Answer

k = 0.06931 min⁻¹
2.Reaction kinetics

Answer: A = 19972 s⁻¹

Reaction rates: for a first-order reaction −dC/dt = kC, so C = C₀·e−kt and the half-life ln 2/k does not depend on concentration. For a second-order reaction 1/C = 1/C₀ + kt. The rate constant rises with temperature following Arrhenius: k = A·e−Ea/(RT).

Absolute temperature

T = 100 + 273.15 = 373.1 K

Solve Arrhenius for A

Ea/(RT) = 50000/(8.314·373.1) = 16.12
A = k·e16.12 = 0.002·9.986 × 10⁶ = 19972 s⁻¹

Answer

A = 19972 s⁻¹
3.Reactor sizing (CSTR & PFR)

Answer: V = 505.9 L

Ideal reactors, first-order reaction (−rA = k·CA) at steady state, with space time τ = V/Q. A CSTR is perfectly mixed, so the whole volume reacts at the low outlet concentration: τ = X/(k·(1 − X)) and CA = CA0/(1 + k·τ). In a PFR each slice of fluid reacts like a small batch reactor: τ = ln(1/(1 − X))/k and CA = CA0·e−k·τ. For the same conversion a CSTR always needs more volume than a PFR.

Space time

τ = ln(1/(1 − 0.85))/0.15 = 1.897/0.15 = 12.65 min

Volume

V = Q·τ = 40·12.65 = 505.9 L

Answer

V = 505.9 L
4.Reactor sizing (CSTR & PFR)

Answer: X = 86.47 %

Ideal reactors, first-order reaction (−rA = k·CA) at steady state, with space time τ = V/Q. A CSTR is perfectly mixed, so the whole volume reacts at the low outlet concentration: τ = X/(k·(1 − X)) and CA = CA0/(1 + k·τ). In a PFR each slice of fluid reacts like a small batch reactor: τ = ln(1/(1 − X))/k and CA = CA0·e−k·τ. For the same conversion a CSTR always needs more volume than a PFR.

Space time

τ = V/Q = 200/50 = 4 min, kτ = 0.5·4 = 2

Conversion

X = 1 − e−kτ = 1 − e−2 = 86.47%

Answer

X = 86.47%
5.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [HI] = 0.3571 mol/L

Chemical equilibrium: for aA + bB ⇌ cC + dD, the equilibrium constant is Kc = [C]c[D]d/([A]a[B]b), using concentrations at equilibrium. An ICE table (Initial, Change, Equilibrium) links the starting amounts to the equilibrium amounts through one unknown x, scaled by the coefficients.

Equilibrium expression

25 = (2x)²/(0.25 − x)²

Take the square root

5 = 2x/(0.25 − x) → x = 0.25·5/(2 + 5) = 0.1786 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[HI] = 2x = 0.3571 mol/L

Answer

[HI] = 0.3571 mol/L
6.Chemical equilibrium

Answer: [PCl5] = 0.0382 mol/L

Chemical equilibrium: for aA + bB ⇌ cC + dD, the equilibrium constant is Kc = [C]c[D]d/([A]a[B]b), using concentrations at equilibrium. An ICE table (Initial, Change, Equilibrium) links the starting amounts to the equilibrium amounts through one unknown x, scaled by the coefficients.

Equilibrium expression

0.1 = x²/(0.1 − x) → x² + 0.1·x − 0.01 = 0

Solve the quadratic

x = (−0.1 + √(0.1² + 4·0.01))/2 = 0.0618 mol/L

Equilibrium concentration

[PCl₅] = 0.1 − 0.0618 = 0.0382 mol/L

Answer

[PCl5] = 0.0382 mol/L
7.Mass balance

Answer: ṁ2 = 5100 kg/h

Steady-state mass balance: in = out for the total and for each component. Blending problems combine both.

Balances

Total: ṁ3 = ṁ1 + ṁ2
NaOH: ṁ1x1 + ṁ2x2 = (ṁ1 + ṁ2)x3

Solve for ṁ2

ṁ2 = ṁ1(x1 − x3)/(x3 − x2) = 850·(45 − 15)/(15 − 10) = 5100 kg/h

Answer

ṁ2 = 5100 kg/h
8.Mass balance

Answer: P = 246.2 kg/h

Tie component: a component that passes through unchanged in one stream (here the solute) links the flows directly. Then the total balance gives the rest.

Solute balance

F·xF = P·xP → P = 2000·8/65 = 246.2 kg/h

Answer

P = 246.2 kg/h

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