23rd November 2024

Tutorial Sheet
Chemical Reaction Engineering – CET306
1. An aqueous reactant stream (4 mol A/liter) passes through a mixed flow reactor followed
by a plug flow reactor. Find the concentration at the exit of the plug flow reactor if in
the mixed flow reactor CA = 1 mol/liter. The reaction is second-order with respect to A,
and the volume of the plug flow unit is three times that of the mixed flow unit.
2. We wish to treat 10 liters/min of liquid feed containing 1 mol A/liter to 99% conversion.
The stoichiometry and kinetics of the reaction are given by
AàR
𝐶! 𝑚𝑜𝑙
−𝑟! =
𝐶! + 0.2 𝑙𝑖𝑡. 𝑚𝑖𝑛

Suggest a good arrangement for doing this using two mixed flow reactors, and find the
size of the two units needed. Sketch the final design chosen.
3. At present we have 90% conversion of a liquid feed (n = 1, CA0 = 10 mol/liter) to our
plug flow reactor with recycle of product (R = 2). If we shut off the recycle stream, by
how much will this lower the processing rate of our feed to the same 90% conversion?

4. The elementary irreversible aqueous-phase reaction A + B à R + S is carried out

isothermally as follows. Equal volumetric flow rates of two liquid streams are introduced
into a 4-liter mixing tank. One stream contains 0.020 mol A/liter, the other 1.400 mol
B/liter. The mixed stream is then passed through a 16-liter plug flow reactor. We find
that some R is formed in the mixing tank, its concentration being 0.002 mol/liter.
Assuming that the mixing tank acts as a mixed flow reactor, find the concentration of R
at the exit of the plug flow reactor as well as the fraction of initial A that has been
converted in the system.

5. Gaseous reactant A diffuses through a gas film and reacts on the surface of a solid
according to a reversible first-order rate,
−𝑟! " = 𝑘 " (𝐶!# − 𝐶!$ )
where CAe, is the concentration of A in equilibrium with the solid surface. Develop an
expression for the rate of reaction of A accounting for both the mass transfer and
reaction steps.
6. In slurry reactors, pure reactant gas is bubbled through liquid containing suspended
catalyst particles. Let us view these kinetics in terms of the film theory, as shown in the
Figure below1. Thus, to reach the surface of the solid, the reactant which enters the liquid
must diffuse through the liquid film into the main body of liquid, and then through the
film surrounding the catalyst particle. At the surface of the particle, reactant yields
product according to first-order kinetics. Derive an expression for the rate of reaction in
terms of these resistances.
7. The kinetics of the aqueous-phase decomposition of A is investigated in two mixed flow
reactors in series, the second having twice the volume of the first reactor. At steady state
with a feed concentration of 1 mol A/liter and mean residence time of 96 sec in the first
reactor, the concentration in the first reactor is 0.5 mol A/liter and in the second is 0.25
mol A/liter. Find the kinetic equation for the decomposition.
8. Liquid Reactant A decomposes as follows:
AàR 𝑟% = 𝑘& 𝐶! ( , 𝑘& = 0.4 𝑚) /𝑚𝑜𝑙. 𝑚𝑖𝑛
AàS 𝑟* = 𝑘( 𝐶! , 𝑘( = 2 𝑚𝑖𝑛+&
(a) Find CR and CS, and 𝜏 for XA = 0.9 in a plug flow reactor.
(b) Find the operating condition (XA, 𝜏 and CR) which maximizes C in a mixed flow
reactor.
9. We wish to explore various reactor setups for the transformation of A into R. The feed
contains 99% A, 1% R; the desired product is to consist of 10% A, 90% R. The
transformation takes place by means of the elementary reaction
A+RàR+R
with rate constant k = 1 liter/mol.min. The concentration of active materials is
throughout.
CA0+ CR0 = CA + CR = C0 = 1 mol/lit
What reactor holding time will yield a product in which C, = 0.9 mol/liter
(a) in a plug flow reactor,
(b) in a mixed flow reactor, and
(c) in a minimum-size setup without recycle?
10. Consider the following elementary reactions:
A+ B à R, k1
R+ B à S, k2
(a) One mole A and 3 moles B are rapidly mixed together. The reaction is very slow,
allowing analysis of compositions at various times. When 2.2 moles B remain
unreacted, 0.2 mole S is present in the mixture. What should be the composition of
the mixture (A, B, R, and S) when the amount of S present is 0.6 mole?
(b) One mole A is added bit by bit with constant stirring to 1 mole B. Left overnight
and then analyzed, 0.5 mole S is found. What can we say about k2/k1?
(c) One mole A and 1 mole B are thrown together and mixed in a flask. The reaction is
very rapid and goes to completion before any rate measurements can be made. On
analysis of the products of reaction 0.25 mole S is found to be present. What can we
say about k2/k1?

11. Derive a rate expression for Langmuir Hinshelwood kinetics for catalytic reactions.
12. Derive a rate expression for Eley-Rideal mechanism for catalytic reactions.