INTRODUCTION

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 reactant
sand 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 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.
This experiment was carried out to study the saponification reaction between
sodium hydroxide and ethyl acetate in a continuous – stirred tank reactor (CSTR).
Beside saponification reaction, the other scopes of this experiment are to
investigate the operational behaviour 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 reaction kinetics and rate law of saponification reaction in a CSTR can be
determined using conductivity calibration curve. 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.
MATERIAS USED
1. Distilled water 6.conducticent
2. Pipette 7 .Ethyl acetate
3. Pump 8 .sodium hydroxide
4. Conductimeter 9.flask
5. Beaker 10. Balance(mass)
11. tank with a stirrer (CSTR)

1|P a g e
OBJECTIVE
To determine the size of reactor required, initial and final flow rates of the
equimolar feed.
To compare the residence time and space time of the reaction.
To calculate the conversion and final concentration of the product.

Procedure:
1. The QRC system was switched on.
2. Type of reactor to be used selected.
3. We pressed the START button and entered the new window the name of the
file that will contain data.
4. 0.5 litres of solution of each reagent was introduced in their corresponding
vessels.
5. The thermostatization circuit turned on and selected a working temperature
was 250C.
6. Switch on the pumps that correspond to the ethyl acetate and sodium
hydroxide to load in to the reactor. At the same time the product was being
accumulated in a beaker outside.
7. Switch off the pumps after the feeds from the vessels was finished.
8. The conductivity of ethyl acetate was measured when the temperature was
stabilized at 250C.
9. The conductivity measurement was monitored since the reactor started to be
loaded. When the conductivity became stabilized, the reaction has finished.
10. We recorded the data obtained on the table.

Calculation:
Calibration data
Cs K
0.05 4.03
0.01 1.13

Calibration curve

2|P a g e
 Figure 1.1 Graph of concentration against conductivity.
Observation result:

Time K k-kw
360 4.04 3.38
420 4.00 3.34
480 4.19 3.53
540 4.12 3.46
4600 4.16 3.50
660 4.12 3.46
720 4.02 3.36
Kav=3.43
From above graph the relation between concentrations of solution and
conductivity
CS=0.0138kav-0.0056
CS=0.0138*3.43-0.0056
=0.042
To calculate the conversion of reaction
𝐶𝐴0−𝐶𝐴 0.05−0.042
𝑋𝐴 = = = 0.16
𝐶𝐴0 0.05

To calculate volume of reactor

𝑉𝑅 𝑋𝐴
=
𝐹𝑉0 −𝑟𝐴

3|P a g e
 But Fv0=1L/4.28min=0.23364L/min=3.894*10^-3L/sec
-rA=KCACB CA=CB
= KCA^2
𝑉𝑅 0.16
=
3.894∗10^−3 𝐾𝐶𝐴 ^2
𝑉𝑅 0.16
=( 2
3.894∗10 −3 0.0348 0.05 )2 (1−0.16 )
)(

VR=10.78L
𝑉𝑅 10.78𝐿
Space time= = = 46.16𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝐹𝑉0 3.894∗10^−3

DISCUSSION
The calibration data used for developing the relationship between the
concentration and conductivity of the product. This relation has helped to
calculate the concentration of the solution at the outlet. Following this result the
conversion at the outlet was able to determine. Conversion obtained is 16%
which shows the conversion is very low, as we know from theory the conversion
of CSTR is very low. The rate constant obtained in batch reaction was used in
this CSTR experiment to calculate rate of reaction. The volume of reactor
obtained experimentally is 10.8 L, but the actual volume is 2 L. the calculated
result is much deviate from actual result, which is due to error occurred during
experiment. Finally, during the space time comparison it was noted a big
difference between the space time measured when the feed entered which was
found to be 4.28 min where the calculated one was 46.16 min. This result shows
there is an error occurred during the experiment that would have a number of
reasons. The lack of accuracy of the equipment we used and the inaccurate
recording of observation may be some of them.

CONCLUSION
Generally the experiment is not go smoothly, this may be improved by doing
many trial experiment. Also taking the accurate measurement of reagent and
materials may improve the effectiveness of the reactor.

4|P a g e
5|P a g e