Ethylene oxide (oxirane) is a versatile compound used in the production of other chemicals for a variety of industrial applications and everyday consumer products. It is industrially produced by oxidation of ethylene in the presence of silver catalyst. The reaction is 2C2H4 + O2 → 2C2H4O However, an undesired competing reaction in the process is the combustion of ethylene: C2H4 + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 2H2O The feed to the reactor (combined fresh feed and recycle stream) contains 3 moles of ethylene per mole of oxygen gas. The conversion of ethylene is 20%, and for every 100 moles of ethylene consumed in the reactor, 90 moles of ethylene oxide emerges in the reactor products. Calculate: A. the molar flow rates of ethylene and oxygen in the fresh feed B. the production rate of ethylene oxide C. overall conversion of ethylene

Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
8th Edition
ISBN:9781259696527
Author:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Publisher:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Chapter1: Introduction
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Ethylene oxide (oxirane) is a versatile compound used in the production of other chemicals for a variety of industrial applications and everyday consumer products. It is industrially produced by oxidation of ethylene in the presence of silver catalyst. The reaction is

2C2H4 + O2 → 2C2H4O

However, an undesired competing reaction in the process is the combustion of ethylene:

C2H4 + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 2H2O

The feed to the reactor (combined fresh feed and recycle stream) contains 3 moles of ethylene per mole of oxygen gas. The conversion of ethylene is 20%, and for every 100 moles of ethylene consumed in the reactor, 90 moles of ethylene oxide emerges in the reactor products. Calculate:
A. the molar flow rates of ethylene and oxygen in the fresh feed
B. the production rate of ethylene oxide
C. overall conversion of ethylene

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