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)
Chemical Reaction Engineering: cram pack
Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 8 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.
1Formulas and methods
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
- Write Kc with products over reactants, each raised to the power of its coefficient.
- Set up an ICE table: Initial, Change (in steps of x times the coefficients), Equilibrium.
- Put the equilibrium expressions into Kc and solve for x.
- 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
A first-order reaction in a batch reactor has k = 0.15 min⁻¹. How long does it take to reach 60% conversion? Find t.
k = 0.15 min⁻¹X = 60 %
t = min
2.Reaction kineticsHard
A reaction has an activation energy of 40 kJ/mol. At 40 °C it is too slow. To what temperature T2 (in °C) must it be heated to make it 10 times faster?
Ea = 40 kJ/molT1 = 40 °Ck2/k1 = 10R = 8.314 J/(mol·K)
T2 = °C
3.Reactor sizing (CSTR & PFR)Medium
A first-order liquid-phase reaction must reach 75% conversion. How many times larger must a CSTR be than a PFR for the same feed rate, rate constant and conversion? Find the ratio VCSTR/VPFR.
X = 75%first order, same k and Q
VCSTR/VPFR =
4.Reactor sizing (CSTR & PFR)Hard
A first-order liquid-phase reaction (k = 0.2 min⁻¹) runs in a 400 L plug-flow reactor (PFR) fed at 25 L/min. The density is constant and the reactor is at steady state. Find the conversion X in percent.
V = 400 LQ = 25 L/mink = 0.2 min⁻¹
X = %
5.Chemical equilibriumMedium
1 mol/L of H₂ and 1 mol/L of I₂ are put in a container and react: H₂ + I₂ ⇌ 2HI, with Kc = 50. Find the equilibrium concentration [H2].
[H₂]₀ = [I₂]₀ = 1 mol/LKc = 50
[H2] = mol/L
6.Chemical equilibriumHard
PCl₅ decomposes: PCl₅ ⇌ PCl₃ + Cl₂, with Kc = 0.1 at the reaction temperature. A container starts with 0.4 mol/L of PCl₅ only. Find the equilibrium concentration [PCl5].
[PCl₅]₀ = 0.4 mol/LKc = 0.1
[PCl5] = mol/L
7.Mass balanceMedium
How much of stream 2 must be added each hour to stream 1 so that the blended product contains 15% NaOH? Find ṁ2.
ṁ1 = 450 kg/hx1 = 50 %x2 = 5 %x3 = 15 %
ṁ2 = kg/h
8.Mass balanceHard
An evaporator concentrates a salt solution by boiling off pure water. Find the water evaporated W in kg/h.
F = 1400 kg/hxF = 13 %xP = 35 %
W = kg/h
3Solutions
1.Reaction kinetics
Answer: t = 6.109 min
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).
Conversion and concentration
C/C0 = 1 − X = 0.4
Solve for the time
t = −ln(1 − X)/k = −ln(0.4)/0.15 = 6.109 min
Answer
t = 6.109 min
2.Reaction kinetics
Answer: T2 = 95.21 °C
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
T1 = 313.1 K
Solve Arrhenius for T₂
1/T2 = 1/313.1 − 8.314·ln(10)/40000 = 3.193 × 10⁻³ − 4.786 × 10⁻⁴ = 2.715 × 10⁻³ K⁻¹
T2 = 368.4 K = 95.21 °C
Answer
T2 = 95.21 °C
3.Reactor sizing (CSTR & PFR)
Answer: VCSTR/VPFR = 2.164
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.
k·τ for each reactor
CSTR: k·τ = X/(1 − X) = 0.75/0.25 = 3
PFR: k·τ = ln(1/(1 − X)) = ln(4) = 1.386
Ratio of volumes
VCSTR/VPFR = 3/1.386 = 2.164
Answer
VCSTR/VPFR = 2.164
The gap grows quickly at high conversion.
4.Reactor sizing (CSTR & PFR)
Answer: X = 95.92 %
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 = 400/25 = 16 min, kτ = 0.2·16 = 3.2
Conversion
X = 1 − e−kτ = 1 − e−3.2 = 95.92%
Answer
X = 95.92%
5.Chemical equilibrium
Answer: [H2] = 0.2205 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
50 = (2x)²/(1 − x)²
Take the square root
7.071 = 2x/(1 − x) → x = 1·7.071/(2 + 7.071) = 0.7795 mol/L
Equilibrium concentration
[H₂] = 1 − x = 0.2205 mol/L
Answer
[H2] = 0.2205 mol/L
6.Chemical equilibrium
Answer: [PCl5] = 0.2438 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/(0.4 − x) → x² + 0.1·x − 0.04 = 0
Solve the quadratic
x = (−0.1 + √(0.1² + 4·0.04))/2 = 0.1562 mol/L
Equilibrium concentration
[PCl₅] = 0.4 − 0.1562 = 0.2438 mol/L
Answer
[PCl5] = 0.2438 mol/L
7.Mass balance
Answer: ṁ2 = 1575 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) = 450·(50 − 15)/(15 − 5) = 1575 kg/h
Answer
ṁ2 = 1575 kg/h
8.Mass balance
Answer: W = 880 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 = 1400·13/35 = 520 kg/h
Total balance
W = F − P = 1400 − 520 = 880 kg/h
Answer
W = 880 kg/h
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