Reference no: EM132052159

Ethyl acetate (C₄H₈O₂) is an extensively used solvent and can be formed by the vapor-phase esterification of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and ethanol (C₂H₆O). The reaction was studied using a microporous resin as a catalyst in a packed-bed reactor. The reaction is first-order with respect to ethanol and pseudo-zero-order with respect to acetic acid. For an equal molar feed rate of acetic acid and ethanol the specific reaction rate is 1.2 L/(g_cat×min) at 118°C.

(a) Calculate the maximum weight of catalyst that one could use and maintain an exit pressure above 1 atm.

(b) Determine the catalyst weight necessary to achieve 90% conversion.

(c) What is the ratio of catalyst needed to achieve the last 5% (85 to 90%) conversion to the weight necessary to achieve the first 5% conversion (0 to 5%) in the reactor?

Additional data:

The total molar feed rate is 10 mol/min,

Initial pressure=10 atm

Temperature= 118°C

Pressure drop parameter (α)=0.01 g^-1.