Mass transfer accompanied by reaction

1.

Derive the equation for the flux for a reaction A

diffusion- NEMCD)

B + C. (non-equimolar counter

For the decomposition of cyclohexane to benzene and hydrogen rate is controlled by

mass transfer at higher temperature. The reaction is carried out in a 5cm ID pipe and
20 m in length packed with spherical pellets of 0.5 cm diameter. The pellets are
coated with the catalyst only on the external surface. The bed porosity is 40%. The
entering volumetric flow rate is 60 lit/min.
a. Calculate the number of pipes necessary to achieve 99.9% conversion of
cyclohexane from an entering gas stream of 5% cyclohexane and 95% hydrogen at 2
atm and 5000C. Can we make EMCD assumption here?
b. Calculate the conversion at half the length.
2. The irreversible gas-phase reaction A
B is carried out adiabatically over a packed
bed of solid catalyst particles. The reaction is first order in the concentration of A on
the catalyst surface. The feed consists of 50% (mole) A and 50% inerts and enters the
bed at a temperature 300 K. The entering volumetric flow rate is 10 lit/sec The
relation between Sh and Re is Sh= 100 (Re)0.5
As a first approximation one may neglect pressure drop. The entering concentration
of A is 1.0M Calculate the catalyst weight necessary to achieve 60% conversion for
a. Isothermal operation

b. Adiabatic operation.

Kinematic viscosity: 0.02 cm2/sec.; Particle diameter: 0.1 cm

Superficial velocity 10 cm/s; Catalyst surface area /mass of the catalyst bed: 60 cm2/g.
cat
Diffusivity of A 10-2 cm2/sec.
Heat of reaction: -10000 cal/gmol A
Heat capacities: CpA =CpB=25 cal/gmol K; Cp inert: 75 cal/gmol K
Rate constant (k) is 0.01 cm3/sec g cat with E= 4000 cal/mol
3. Spherical particles of zinc blend of size R=1mm are roasted in an 8% oxygen stream
at 900 C & 1 atm. The stiochiometry of the reaction is 2ZnS 3O2 2ZnO 2SO2 .
Assume shrinking core model is appropriate and the reaction is instantaneous.
Calculate the time needed for complete conversion of the particle. (Hint: Work in the
two limiting cases, & the general situation, if possible; external mass transfer may be
neglected).
Data given:
Solid density=4.13g/cm3=0.0425mol/cm3
Gas diffusivity in ZnO layer, De=0.08cm2/s

4. Derive the expression representing time variation of the reactant particle size, for the
general situation where external mass transfer, product layer diffusion, & reaction,
may all have resistances comparable in magnitude (Eqn. 33b in Levenspiel).
5. A plant is removing a trace of chlorine from a waste gas stream by passing it over a
solid absorbent in a Packed bed. 63.3% removal is being achieved right now. What is
the percentage removal expected when all of the following are done simultaneously?
Flow rate is increased by a factor of 4; particle diameter decreased by factor of 3;
packed tube length increased by 50%. Assume that the chlorine is removed by a
virtually instantaneous reaction at the surface of the absorbent. (Hint: dont forget the
dependence of mass transfer coefficient/specific surface area on the particle size)
6. The global rates of SO2 oxidation have been measured with a platinum catalyst
impregnated on the outer surface of 1/8 x 1/8 in cylindrical pellets of alumna. The
data were obtained in a differential reactor consisting of 1 inch ID tube packed with
catalyst pellets. The superficial mass velocity of the reaction mixture was 1460 kg/hr
m2. At constant conversion of 20% of a feed consisting of 6.5% (mol) SO 2 (and rest
air), the rates are as shown below. The toal pressure of 790 mm of Hg. Consider the
properties of mixture to be those of air. Sc for SO2 is 1.21.
a. If only the data at 4600C and 5000C are used and external diffusion is neglected,
what is the apparent activation energy?
b. By calculating (Cb-Cs) for SO2 at various temperatures and all the data above,
estimate the true activation energy for the combined adsorption and reaction
processes at the catalyst surface. Consider the reaction to be isothermal.
0

C
rp, gmol
SO2/h/
gcat

350
0.0049

360
0.0079

380
0.0142

400
0.024

420
0.0344

440
0.052

460
0.067

480
0.09

500
0.122