Module 3: Solved problems

1. A B C
D E
CA0 = 10 mole/lit. Rate constants for reactions leading to B, C, D and E are 60, 0.03, 20 and 0.02
h-1, respectively. Determine CC, CD and CE in exit stream of a CSTR when CA and CB are 0 and
0.15 mole/lit, respectively. CB0 = CC0 = CD0 = CE0 = 0. [2018]

Ans. CA (in exit stream) = 0 mole/lit. So, there is complete conversion of ‘A’.
Rate constants for reactions leading to B, C, D and E are 60, 0.03, 20 and 0.02 h-1, respectively;
and these are labeled as k1, k2, k3 and k4, respectively.
So, all reactions are 1st order reactions.
Let, initial concentrations of ‘B’ and ‘D’ (as obtained from depletion of ‘A’) be CB´ and CD´.
(dCB/dt)/(dCD/dt) = k1CA/k3CA = k1/k3 = 60/20 = 3
CB´/CD´ = 3 (as CB0 = CD0 = 0)
CB´ + CD´ = CA0 – CA = (10 – 0) = 10 mole/lit
(3 + 1)CD´ = 10 mole/lit
CD´ = 2.5 mole/lit = CD (as ‘D’ doesn’t deplete further)
CB´ = 7.5 mole/lit
CB (in exit stream) = 0.15 mole/lit
Concentration of consumed B = (7.5 - 0.15) mole/lit = 7.35 mole/lit = CC + CE
‘C’ and ‘E’ are obtained from depletion of ‘B’.
(dCC/dt)/(dCE/dt) = k2CA/k4CA = k2/k4 = 0.03/0.02 = 1.5
CC/CE = 1.5 (as CC0 = CE0 = 0)
2.5 CE = 7.35 mole/lit
CE = (7.35/2.35) mole/lit = 2.94 mole/lit
CC = (7.35 – 2.94) mole/lit = 4.41 mole/lit
[Note: This kind of calculation doesn’t vary with type of reactor; so, reactor type is redundant
information here.]
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2. A B C
D
Rate constants for reactions leading to B, C and D are 4, 3 and 2 h -1, respectively. CA0 = 5
mole/lit. In a PFR, what will be maximum concentration of B in outgoing stream and at what
time will it be achieved? CB0 = CC0 = CD0 = 0. [2018]

Ans. Rate constants for reactions leading to B, C and D are 4, 3 and 2 h-1, respectively.
So, k1= 4 h-1
k2 = 2 h-1
k3 = 3 h-1
CA0 = 5 mole/lit.
k12 = k1 + k2 = (4 + 2) h-1 = 6 h-1
k3/(k3 – k12) = 3/(3 – 6) = – 0.5
CB0 = CC0 = CD0 = 0
CB, max = CA0 (k1/k12) [(k12/k3)-0.5] = 5 (4/6) [(6/3)-0.5] = (10/3)(0.707) = 2.356 mole/lit.
τPFR = ln(k3/k12)/(k3 – k12) = ln(3/6)/(3 – 6) = 1.386 h
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3. In an alcohol oxidation process, its initial concentration is 20 mol/lit. Rate constants with
alcohol and aldehyde as reactants are 15 and 5 min-1, respectively. Determine maximum
concentration of aldehyde in system, corresponding space time and concentration of alcohol in
(i) PFR, (ii) CSTR. [2019]

Ans. Alcohol Aldehyde Acid

(i) In PFR
CB, max = CA0 (k1/ k2)x, where, x = k2/( k2 – k1) = 5/(5 – 15) = – 0.5
CB, max = 20(15/5)-0.5 = 11.547 mol/lit.
τPFR = ln(k1/k2)/(k1 – k2) = ln(15/5)/(15 – 5) = 0.1098 min

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Corresponding CA = CA0 (k1/k2)y, where, y = k1/( k2 – k1) = 15/(5 – 15) = – 1.5
CA = 20(15/5)-1.5 = 11.547 mol/lit. = 3.849 mol/lit.

(ii) In CSTR
CB, max = CA0/[1 + √(k2/k1)]2 = 20/[1 + √(5/15)]2 = 8.038 mol/lit.
τCSTR = 1/√(k1k2) = 1/√(5 × 15) = 0.1155 min
Corresponding CA = CA0/[1 + √(k1/k2)] = 20/[1 + √(15/5)] = 7.32 mol/lit.
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4. A B C
D E
All reactions are first order. CA0 = 10 mole/lit., after 1 h, CE = CB = 1 mole/lit.
CB0 = CC0 = CD0 = CE0 = 0.
(i) SP (B/D) = 4, SP (C/E) = 2, determine CA, CC, CD after 1 h.
(ii) SP (B/D) = 2, SP (C/E) = 4, determine CA, CC, CD after 1 h.

Ans. All reactions are first order. CA0 = 10 mole/lit., after 1 h, CE = CB = 1 mole/lit.
Let, initial concentrations of ‘B’ and ‘D’ (as obtained from depletion of ‘A’) be CB´ and CD´.
Let, rate constants be k1, k2, k3 and k4 for reactions leading to B, C, D and E, respectively.
i) SP (B/D) = 4
(dCB/dt)/(dCD/dt) = k1CA/k3CA = k1/k3 = 4
CB´/CD´ = 4 (as CB0 = CD0 = 0)
SP (C/E) = 2
(dCC/dt)/(dCE/dt) = k2CA/k4CA = k2/k4 = 2
CC/CE = 2 (as CC0 = CE0 = 0) (as there is no further depletion of ‘C’ and ‘E’)
CC = 2CE = 2 mole/lit.
CC + CE = 2 + 1 = 3 mole/lit. = Concentration of B consumed to produce ‘C’ and ‘E’.
CB´ = CB + Concentration of B consumed to produce ‘C’ and ‘E’ = (1 + 3) = 4 mole/lit.
CD = CD´ = 4/4 = 1 mole/lit.
Concentration of A consumed to produce ‘B’ and ‘D’ = CB´ + CD´ = (4 + 1) = 5 mole/lit.
CA = CA0 – Concentration of A consumed = (10 – 5) = 5 mole/lit.

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ii) SP (B/D) = 2
(dCB/dt)/(dCD/dt) = k1CA/k3CA = k1/k3 = 2
CB´/CD´ = 2 (as CB0 = CD0 = 0)
SP (C/E) = 4
(dCC/dt)/(dCE/dt) = k2CA/k4CA = k2/k4 = 4
CC/CE = 4 (as CC0 = CE0 = 0) (as there is no further depletion of ‘C’ and ‘E’)
CC = 4CE = 4 mole/lit.
CC + CE = 4 + 1 = 5 mole/lit. = Concentration of B consumed to produce ‘C’ and ‘E’.
CB´ = CB + Concentration of B consumed to produce ‘C’ and ‘E’ = (1 + 5) = 6 mole/lit.
CD = CD´ = 6/2 = 3 mole/lit.
Concentration of A consumed to produce ‘B’ and ‘D’ = CB´ + CD´ = (6 + 3) = 9 mole/lit.
CA = CA0 – Concentration of A consumed = (10 – 9) = 1 mole/lit.
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5. A B C

CA0 = 10 mole/lit.
Rate constants for reactions leading to B (k1) and C (k2) are 15 mole/lit.-min. and 5 min.-1,
respectively. Determine CB, max and corresponding optimum τ in case of i) CSTR, ii) PFR.

Ans. Rate constants for reactions leading to B (k1) and C (k2) are 15 mole/lit.-min. and 5 min.-1,
respectively; i.e., this series reaction is a zero order reaction followed by a first order reaction.
i) In CSTR
CB, max = CA0/(1 + K´)
K´ = k2CA0/k1 = 5 × 10/15 = 3.333
CB, max = 10/(1 + 3.333) = 2.307 mole/lit.
τCSTR = CA0/k1 = 10/15 min. = 0.667 min.

ii) In PFR
CB, max = CA0(1 – e-K´)/K´ = 10(1 – e-3.333)/3.333 = 10(1 – 0.036)/3.333 = 2.892 mole/lit.
τPFR = CA0/k1 = 10/15 min. = 0.667 min.
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6. A B C

CA0 = 10 mole/lit.
Rate constants for reactions leading to B (k1) and C (k2) are 5 min.-1 and 15 mole/lit.-min.,
respectively. Determine CB, max and corresponding optimum τ in case of i) CSTR, ii) PFR.

Ans. Rate constants for reactions leading to B (k1) and C (k2) are 5 min.-1 and 15 mole/lit.-min.,
respectively; i.e., this series reaction is a first order reaction followed by a zero order reaction.
i) In CSTR
K = k2/(k1CA0) = 15/(5 × 10) = 0.3
CB, max = (1 – √K)[CA0 – k2/(k1√K)] = (1 – √0.3)[10 – 15/(5√0.3)] = 2.045 mole/lit.
τCSTR = (1 – √K)/(k1√K) = (1 – √0.3)/(5√0.3)] = 0.4523/(5 × 0.5477) = 0.165 min.

ii) In PFR
CB, max = CA0[1 – K(1 – lnK)] = 10[1 – 0.3(1 – ln 0.3)] = 3.388 mole/lit.
τPFR = ln(1/K)/k1 = ln(1/0.3)/5 = 0.2407 min.
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