Kinetic study of ethylene oxidation using silver catalyst in a Berty ractor

Muhammad Saud Al-Ahmadi

Master Thesis King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Saudi Arabia) 158 (1985)
The reaction of ethylene oxidation was studied on a silver catalyst supported on alumina in a
Berty reactor (CSTCR). Rate expressions were fitted to the data free of any physical resistances.
Reaction products were ethylene oxide, carbon dioxide, and water. The rate expressions are as
follows: (1) Rate of conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide:$$\rm r\sb1 = {(1.354\times
10\sp3)exp(-9010/T) (P\sb{O2})\sp{0.5}(P\sb{C2H4})\sp{0.6}\over 1+(2.88\times 10\sp{-
2})exp(2400/T)(P\sb{CO2})}$$(2) Rate of conversion of ethylene to carbon dioxide:$$\rm r\sb2
= {(6.30\times 10\sp3)exp(-10800/T)(P\sb{O2})\sp{0.5}(P\sb{C2H4})\sp{0.5}\over
1+(1.57\times10\sp{-2})exp(1530/T)(P\sb{CO2})}$$ The reaction rates were measured using a
feed containing ethylene (3-6.5%), oxygen (18-19.5%) and the balance being nitrogen. The
operating temperatures were varied from 513 K to 593 K and the operating pressure was kept at
300 PSIG. Flow rates were varied from 9.25 to 275 l/hr at STP. The catalyst used was in the
form of cylindrical pellets (1/8 x 1/8 in.) containing 8% silver supported on $\alpha$ alumina;
and supplied by Harshaw/Filtrol Partnership. Behavior of selectivity of ethylene oxide vs total
conversion of ethylene was observed at different temperatures and it was found that selectivity
decreases with the increase in conversion of ethylene. Temperature was found to have a
negligible effect on the selectivity at the same conversions.
Keywords: Applied sciences, Chemical engineering
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