3.

0 AIMS
To carry out a saponification reaction between NaOH and Et(Ac).
To determine the reaction rate constant.
To determine the effect of residence time on the conversion.

4.0 THEORY
In this experiment, Plug Flow Reactor (Model: BP101) is used to study the rate of reaction
of saponification process and effect of the residence time towards its conversion. Plug flow reactor
is one type of continuous process reactor. PFR usually come in cylindrical pipe shape and the lack
of stirring cause the properties of the flowing stream vary from one point to another. The feed
enters from one end and the product exit at the other end. The long tube characteristic of the PFR
prevent the complete mixing of the fluid. Therefore, specific assumptions are made regarding the
extent of mixing, the first one is assuming that there is no mixing in the axial direction.
Furthermore, there is a complete mixing in the radial direction and the velocity profile is uniform
across the radius. [1]

4.1 Rate of Reaction and Rate Law [3]

Simply put, rate of reaction can be roughly defined as the rate of disappearance of reactants
or the rate of formation of products. When a chemical reaction is said to occur, a reactant (or
several) diminishes and a product (or several) produced. This is what constitutes a chemical
reaction. For example:
+ + (1)

where A and B represent reactants while C and D represent products. In this reaction, A and B is
being diminished and C and D is being produced. Rate of reaction, concerns itself with how fast
the reactants diminish or how fast the product is formed. Rate of reaction of each species
corresponds respectively to their stoichiometric coefficient. As such:

= = = (2)

The negative sign indicates reactants.
Thus, the rate law is:

= (3)
Where
k - rate constant
CA - concentration of A species
CB - concentration of B species

Stoichiometry coefficient with respect to A

Stoichiometry coefficient with respect to B
For a second order equimolar reaction with same initial reactants concentration (CA0 = CB0),
Thus, the rate law will be:
= = 2 = 0
2
(1 )2 (4)

= 0 = 0 0 (5)

0 0
= 0 = ( ) (6)
0 (1)2 0 1

Where: -
X = Extent of Conversion
CA = Exit concentration of reactant NaOH [M]
V0 = Total inlet flowrates of solution [ml/min]
CA0 = inlet concentration of reactant NaOH in the reactor [M]
4.2 Conversion
Taking species, A as the basis, the reaction expression can be divided through the
stoichiometric coefficient of species A, hence the reaction expression can be arranged as follows:

+ + (7)

Conversion is an improved way of quantifying exactly how far has the reaction moved, or how
many moles of products are formed for every mole of A has consumed. Conversion XA is the
number of moles of A that have reacted per mole of A fed to the system. As seen below:

= (8)

4.3 Residence Time Distribution Function

Space time, , is obtained by dividing reactor volume by the volumetric flowrate entering
the reactor. Space time is the time necessary to process one reactor volume of fluid, given a
particular set of entrance conditions also known as mean residence time or holding time. [1]

= (9)
0

In an ideal plug-ow reactor, all the atoms of material leaving the reactor have been inside it for
exactly the same amount of time. The time the atoms have spent in the reactor is called the
residence time of the atoms in the reactor. [1]

4.4 Reaction Rate constant

For PFR volume, flowrate and initial concentrations, the reaction rate constant is: -

0
= ( ) (10)
0 1
4.5 Saponification Reaction
Saponification is the hydrolysis of a carboxylic acid ester in a basic medium [1]. Saponification
is essentially a soap manufacturing process that takes place by reacting the fatty acid with alkali
especially triglycerides producing glycerol and carboxylate salts(soap).
+ 3 3 + +
Where: R is alkyl group
In this experiment/ saponification of ethyl acetate in the presence of sodium hydroxide is used to
demonstrate the saponification reaction. The saponification of ethyl acetate reaction is as
follows.
+ 3 2 5 3 + + 2 5

when it comes to chemical kinetics, this reaction is a prominent second order reaction. [2] In a
PFR reactant fluids are pumped through a tubular section where the reaction is carried out. At the
inlet of the PFR reactant concentration is very high, hence the rate of reaction is also high. But,
when it passes through the reactor, reactants get consumed and products are formed. Therefore,
rate of reaction drops through the PFR with respect to reactor length.

4.5 The Conductivity and Concentration Relations

The conductivity of the reaction mixture changes with conversion and therefore the extent of the
reaction can be monitored by recording the conductivity with respect to time. A calibration curve
is needed to relate conductivity data to concentration values.

Reference
1. Folger.H.S.(2014). Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering. 4th Edition.
2. Walker, L. (1906). A Method for Determining Velocities of Saponification: Royal
Society of London.
3. Lab Guidelines for Lab 5: Plug Flow Reactor (Model: BP101)