Chapter 10

1. Hydrodemethylation of toluene (T) is carried out over a solid mineral containing

clinoptilolite to yield methane (M) and benzene (B):

C6H5H3 + H2 → C6H6 +CH4

The following data for hydrodemethylation of toluene were obtained using a differential
reactor.

(I) Suggest a rate law consistent with the experimental data.

(II) Suggest a reaction mechanism and rate-limiting step consistent with the rate law.
(III) Evaluate the rate law parameters.
2. Experimental data for the gas-phase catalytic reaction
A+B→C
are shown below. The limiting step in the reaction is known to be irreversible, so that the
overall reaction is irreversible. The reaction was carried out in a differential reactor to
which A, B, and C were all fed.
 (I) Suggest a rate law consistent with the experimental data.
(II) Suggest a reaction mechanism and rate-limiting step consistent with the rate
law.
(III) Evaluate the rate law parameters

3. The first-order isomerisation

A→B
is being carried out isothermally in a batch reactor on a catalyst that is decaying as a
result of aging. The rate of catalyst decay is second order with respect to the present
activity. Derive an equation for conversion as a function of time.

4. The elementary irreversible gas phase catalytic reaction

is carried out isothermally in a batch reactor. The catalyst deactivation follows a first
order decay law and is independent of the concentrations of both A and B. Derive an
expression for conversion as a function of time and calculate conversion after 10 minutes
at 300 K.
Additional information:
            CA0 = 1 mol/dm3
                V0 = 1 dm3
                W = 1 kg
            kd = 0.1 min-1 at 300 K                 Ed/R = 2,000 K
            k1 =0.2 dm /(kg cat. min) at 300 K Ea/R = 500 K
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