APCH 322: Industrial chemistry

Practice exercise

1. Pure carbon is burned in oxygen. The flue gas analysis is CO2 = 76.0%, CO = 11.0%,
and the rest is O2 . What is the percent excess oxygen used?
2. Suppose that in a test 20 kg of propane (C 3 H8 ) is burned with 400 kg of air to produce
44 kg CO 2 and 12 kg of CO. What was the percentage excess air?
3. A stack gas contains 60 mole% N 2 , 15% CO 2 , 10% O 2 , and the balance H2 O.
Calculate the molar composition of the gas on a dry basis.
4. If 20 moles of CO are fed to a reactor with 10 moles of O 2 and form 15 moles of CO 2 ,
calculate the extent of reaction? 2CO + O 2 → 2CO 2
5.

6. A distillation column separates 10,000 kg/hr of a mixture containing equal mass of

benzene and toluene. The product D recovered from the condenser at the top of the
column contains 95% benzene, and the bottom W from the column contains 96%
toluene. The vapor V entering the condenser from the top of the column is 8000 kg/hr.
A portion of the product from the condenser is returned to the column as reflux R, and
the rest is withdrawn as the final product D. Assume that V, R, and D are identical in
composition since V is condensed completely. Find the ratio of the amount refluxed R
to the product withdrawn D.
 Solutions

1. Carbon mass balance (C)

1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶 1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶
𝑛𝐶 = 76 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶𝑂2 ( ) + 10 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶𝑂 ( ) = 87 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶𝑂2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶𝑂

Now, we have moles of Carbon reacted, we can calculate theoretical amount of O2 required
for a reaction

RXN: C + O 2 → CO 2

Ratio 1:1, thus, Moles of O2 = 87 mol

Next, we have to calculate fed oxygen in a reactor:

O2 fed = O2 moles in a product + O2 mole reacted to form CO2 + reacted to form CO = 94.5
mol

𝑂2 𝑓𝑒𝑑 − 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑂2
% 𝐸𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑂2 = ( ) 100% = 8.62 %
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑂2

2. % excess is based on complete combustion; incomplete combustion has no influence

on the calculation of excess air

C3 H8 + 5O2 → 3CO 2 + 4H2 O

First convert provided mass of propane to moles and use to obtained theoretical moles of O2

Thus, theoretical oxygen = 5 (moles of C3 H8 )

Then divide obtained theoretical moles of O2 with 0.21 to get theoretical air

And convert 400 kg of air into moles, then answer a question

𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑓𝑒𝑑 − 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑖𝑟

%𝐸𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑖𝑟 = ( ) 100%
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑖𝑟

3. Wet basis = 100 mol

Total mole on dry basis = 85 mol

60 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑦𝑁2 = ( ) 100% = 71%
85 𝑚𝑜𝑙
 4. Extent of rxn

𝑛𝑖 = 𝑛𝑖0 ± 𝜐𝜉
For CO2

15 = 0 ± 2𝜉

5. G

6. Distillation of Benzene and toluene

To solve this, try to work on entire process (Always try to work on entire process first)

Thus, Total mass balance: 10 000 kg/hr = D + W

Then do component mass balance
For Benzene
0.5 (10 000) = 0.95D +0.04W

From these equations, We have two unknowns and two equation, thus it is solvable.
Now, We know D and W values, go to a splitter (S) and find R since We know R and D

Then, answer a question (R/D) ?