Lab 08

Methane and oxygen react in the presence of a catalyst to form

formaldehyde. In a parallel reaction, methane is oxidized to carbon
dioxide and water.
CH4 + O2 → HCHO + H2O
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
The feed to the reactor contains equimolar amounts of methane and
oxygen. Assume a basis of 100.0 mol feed/s.
The fractional conversion of methane is 0.900 and the fractional
yield of formaldehyde is 0.855. What is the composition of the
output stream?
 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐹𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑛𝐶𝐻4
100
𝑠
Reactor
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝐶𝐻4
𝑛𝑂2
50
𝑠
𝑛𝐻𝐶𝐻𝑂
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑂2
50
𝑠
𝑛𝐻2 𝑂

𝑛𝐶𝑂2
Consumption : −𝜀 0

Generation : +𝜀0
CH4 + O2 → HCHO + H2O
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O

CH4 Balance
In – out + gen – con = acc
50 – nCH4 + 0 – 1𝜀1 – 1𝜀2 = 0
nCH4 = 50 - 1𝜀1 - 1𝜀2
CH4 + O2 → HCHO + H2O nCO2 = 50 - 1𝜀1 - 1𝜀2
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O

O2 Balance
In – out + gen – con = acc
50 – nO2 + 0 – 1𝜀1 – 2𝜀2 = 0
nO2 = 50 - 1𝜀1 -2 𝜀2
CH4 + O2 → HCHO + H2O nCO2 = 50 - 1𝜀1 - 1𝜀2
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O nO2 = 50 - 1𝜀1 -2 𝜀2

HCHO Balance
In – out + gen – con = acc
0 – nHCHO + 1𝜀1 – 0 = 0
nHCHO = 1𝜀1
CH4 + O2 → HCHO + H2O nCO2 = 50 - 1𝜀1 - 1𝜀2
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O nO2 = 50 - 1𝜀1 -2 𝜀2
nHCHO = 1𝜀1

H2O Balance
In – out + gen – con = acc
0 – nH2O + 1𝜀1 +2 𝜀2 - 0 = 0
nH2O = 1𝜀1 + 2𝜀2
CH4 + O2 → HCHO + H2O nCO2 = 50 - 1𝜀1 - 1𝜀2
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O nO2 = 50 - 1𝜀1 -2 𝜀2
nHCHO = 1𝜀1
nH2O = 1𝜀1 + 2𝜀2
CO2 Balance
In – out + gen – con = acc
0 – nCO2 + 𝜀2 - 0 = 0
nCO2 = 𝜀2
nCO2 = 50 - 𝜀1 - 𝜀2 There are 5 equations.

nO2 = 50 - 𝜀1 -2 𝜀2 Variables are 7

nHCHO = 𝜀1
We require 2 more
nH2O = 𝜀1 + 2𝜀2 equations in order to find
out the solution.
nCO2 = 𝜀2
 nCO2 = 50 - 𝜀1 - 𝜀2
Given Condition:
The fractional conversion of nO2 = 50 - 𝜀1 -2 𝜀2
methane is 0.900 nHCHO = 𝜀1
nH2O = 𝜀1 + 2𝜀2
90% used nCO2 = 𝜀2
100% in 10% out
50 mol 50 x 0.1 mol

nCH4 = 50 x 0.1
nCH4 = 5
 nCO2 = 50 - 𝜀1 - 𝜀2
Given Condition:
The fractional yield of formaldehyde nO2 = 50 - 𝜀1 -2 𝜀2
is 0.855 nHCHO = 𝜀1
nH2O = 𝜀1 + 2𝜀2
CH4 + O2 → HCHO + H2O
nCO2 = 𝜀2
1 mol CH4 makes 1 mol of HCHO nCH4 = 5
50 mol will make 50 mol of HCHO (Ideally)

nHCHO = 50 x 0.855
nHCHO = 42.75
nCO2 = 50 - 𝜀1 - 𝜀2
nO2 = 50 - 𝜀1 -2 𝜀2
nHCHO = 𝜀1
nH2O = 𝜀1 + 2𝜀2
nCO2 = 𝜀2
nCH4 = 5
nHCHO = 42.75