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1.0 Abstract 1
2.0 Introduction 2
4.0 Methodology 6
6.0 Conclusion 17
7.0 References 17
8.0 Appendices 17
1.0 ABSTRACT
The Continuous- Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) is common type of reactor used
in industrial processing which is primarily used for liquid phase reaction. The
reactor was operate in steady state condition with continuous flow of reactants
and products and assumed as perfectly mixed. The feed assumes a uniform
composition throughout the reactor; exit stream has the same composition as in
the tank. There is no time dependence or position dependence of the
temperature, the concentration and the reaction rate in the tank. The usage of
the CSTR is when agitation is required and series configurations for different
concentration streams. Besides that, the advantages using this reactor compare
to the other are it has good temperature control, easily adapt to two phases, low
operating cost and easy to clean. But, the CSTR has lowest conversion per unit
volume and requires large volume to obtain the desired conversions. When high
conversions of reactants are needed, several CSTRs in series can be used.
Equally good results can be obtained by dividing a single vessel into
compartments while minimizing back-mixing and short-circuiting. The larger the
number of CSTR stages, the closer the performance approaches that of a tubular
plug-flow reactor.
This experiment was carried out to study the saponification reaction between
sodium hydroxide and ethyl acetate in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR).
This process was conducted to produce soap, usually from fat and lye.
Technically, the saponification process involves base (caustic soda NaOH)
hydrolysis of triglycerides, which are ester of fatty acids, to form sodium salt of
carboxylate. Beside saponification reaction, the other scopes of this experiment
are to investigate the operational behavior of a reaction in CSTR, to calculate the
reactant conversion based on the conductivity calibration curve. Also, the
significant of doing this experiment was to verify the reaction order obtained
from the hypothesis of the experiment and to determine the rate constant of
saponification reaction between sodium hydroxide and ethyl acetate using
graphical and analytical technique. The result of CSTR of the reaction kinetics,
rate law and conversion is compared with a batch reactor for the same reaction
as stated in scope of experiment.
The reaction kinetics and rate law of saponification reaction in a CSTR can
be determined using conductivity calibration curve. Conductivity is a measure of
how well a solution can conducts electricity. A solution must contain charged
particles, or ions to carry a current. Most conductivity measurements are made in
aqueous solutions, and the ions responsible for the conductivity come from
electrolytes dissolved in the water. There are two ways to calibrate conductivity
sensors. The sensor can be calibrated against a solution of known conductivity or
it can be calibrated against a previously calibrated sensor and analyzer.
Normally, the sensor should be calibrated at a point near the midpoint of the
operating range calibration changes the cell constant. For this experiment, the
calibration curve is prepared using different molar concentration of sodium
hydroxide and sodium acetate.
3.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
In this experiment we are going to use continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR)
to react sodium hydroxide and ethyl acetate to produce sodium acetate. Based
on H. Scott Fogler, Elements of Chemical Reaction CSTR normally operated at
steady state and is assumed to be perfectly mixed. Based on this statement, the
temperature of the reactor and reaction mixture should not have any major
change throughout the experiment. Concentration and volume of the reactants
should be the same as another reactant since it is a one-to-one ratio for the
reaction. The reactants are well mixed and so the reaction must be efficient.
However, reactants and products are always mixed well together in the reactor
making it difficult to determine the product conversion. That is why a standard
conductivity calibration curve has to be prepared before the experiment.
Conductivity of the mixture will indicate the percent products present which is
determine using conductivity meter.
Theory
v CA 0 X
V=
r A
Where V is the reactor volume, X is the reactant and v is the total volumetric
r A=k C A C B
CA
X =1
CA 0
CB
X =1
C B0
C A =C A 0 ( 1X )
Therefore,
r A=k C 2A 0 (1X )2
vX
V=
k C (1 X)2
A0
4.0 METHODOLOGY
B. Operating procedure
RESULT
Table 1: Calibration Data
1
f(x) = - 0.14x + 1.74
0.8 R = 1
0.6
Conversion
0.4
0.2
0
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Conductivity (S)
Time, t (min)
Time, t (min)
Time, t (min)
Time, t (min)
Based on Graph 1 the conductivity calibration curve, we get the linear equation of the curve
as y = -0.1429x + 1.7395, where
When flow rate is 40 cm3/min, the conductivity at time, t=10 min is 9.14 S,
the conversion value is
y = -0.1429(9.14) + 1.7395
= 0.4334
Four linear graphs of 1/CA vs. time are plotted, which indicates the second order reaction of
the saponification process.
1/CA =1/CA0 + kt
By using graphical method, we know that the slope of the graph indicates the value of k.
Average value of k based on the four graphs (of different flow rates)
kav= (2.7364+1.3881+2.9988+2.0007)/4
= 9.124/4
= 2.281 L/mol.min
v0 X
k= V C A 0 (1 X)2
40(0.5048)
k = 2000 (0.1)(10.5048)2
= 0.4117 L/mol.min
= V/v0
whereV is volume of reactor and v0 is the volumetric flow rate entering the reactor.
For flow rate v0 = 40 cm3/min, because there are two reactants flowing in the reactor with the
same flow rate, thus we use v0 = 2(40) = 80 cm3/min.
2000 cm 3
th = 80 cm3/min
= 25 min
Discussion
At the end of our experiment and after done the calculation, we can
calculate the reactant conversion, verify the reaction order and determine the
rate constant.
1/CA =1/CA0 + kt
Reaction Both reactors will process the reaction at the same speed
kinetics
Rate Law Both reactors have the same rate law which is second
order. Rate law is independent of type of reactors used.
Some errors in the process of experiment include errors during preparation of the solutions,
side reaction occurs during the experiment and inconsistency of flow rates from tanks to
CSTR reactor. The flow rate went up and down due to possibly faulty valve since another
valve from another tank was working fine.
Some recommendations to improve the result include study the experiment before entering
the lab to conduct the experiment and always check for errors before starting the experiment
including preparation of reactants material (weighing and dissolving in solution) and
systematic errors like zero errors.
6.0 CONCLUSION
7.0 REFERENCES
8.0 APPENDICES
Figure shows Continuous stirred tank reactors, (a) With agitator and internal heat
transfer surface, (b) With pump around mixing and external heat transfer surface.
(a)
(b) (c)
The figure show the (a) zero order reaction (b) first order reaction (c) second
order reaction