2017

Continuous stirred tank

reactor

CHEMICAL REACTIONS
YASSER ASHOUR

|
Abstract
The experiment is to study the effect reaction time and to determine the relationship between
reaction rate with conversion, reactor volume and feed rate. The reaction started when Ethyl Acetate
and Naoh were mixed with equal volume by using continuous stirred tank reactor. After 1 minute the
first 50mL sample of solution is collected and thus undergo the titration process with 0.1M NaoH. The
sample is taken again for minutes 8,18,23 consecutively. The amount of Naoh been used in that
titration has been recorded in the result. Moreover, result has been recorded, thus calculation is
made, and the graphs were plotted based on the results.
Table of Contents
Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 1

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 5

Continuous stirrer tank reactor .......................................................................................................... 5

Industrial usage of CSTR.................................................................................................................. 7

Advantages...................................................................................................................................... 8

Disadvantages ................................................................................................................................. 8

calculations ..................................................................................................................................... 8

Results ................................................................................................................................................... 11

For zero order reaction ..................................................................................................................... 11

For first reaction ............................................................................................................................... 12

For second order reaction................................................................................................................. 12

Procedures .............................................................................................................................................. 9

Discussion.............................................................................................................................................. 13

Sources of Errors and Recommendations............................................................................................. 13

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 14

References ............................................................................................................................................ 15
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 CSTR .......................................................................................................................................... 6

Figure 2 example for the usage .............................................................................................................. 6

Figure 3 cstr in pharmaceutical industry ................................................................................................ 7

Figure 4 ................................................................................................................................................... 7

Table 1results ........................................................................................................................................ 11

Figure 5 zero order................................................................................................................................ 11

Figure 6 first order reaction .................................................................................................................. 12

Figure 7 second order reaction ............................................................................................................. 13

List of tables
Table 1results ........................................................................................................................................ 11

Table 2zero order .................................................................................................................................. 11

Table 3first order reaction .................................................................................................................... 12

Table 4 second order reaction .............................................................................................................. 12

Introduction
Chemical kinetics and reactor design are important in producing almost all industrial chemicals. The
selection of a reaction system that operates in the safest and most efficient way is the key to the
success or failure of a chemical plant. Reactor is the equipment that changes the raw material to the
product that we want. A good reactor will give a high production and economical. One of criteria to
design or to choose a reactor knows the effectiveness of the reactor itself. There are many reactors
depending on the nature of the feed materials and products. One of the most important we need to
know in the various chemical reaction is the rate of reaction. The reaction occurred in a reactor is
exothermic or endothermic. A reactor is generally assembled with a jacket or coil in order to maintain
the reaction temperature in the reactor. If heat is evolved due to exothermic reaction, a coolant
stream is required to pass through the jacket or coil to remove the extra heat. On the other hand, if
endothermic reaction occurs in the system, the flow of heating medium is passing through jacket or
coil for maintain the reaction temperature. A reactor operates at a constants temperature, then that
is called as the isothermal reactor. If any exothermic or endothermic reactions are involved in the
reactor, the temperature of the reactions mixture varies with time and we need to develop the energy
balance equation for this non-isothermal reactor. In adiabatic reactor, no interchange of heat occurs
between the system and surroundings. Thus, no heating and cooling medium are required. A chemical
reactor is a vessel where reactions are carried out purposely to produce products from reactants by
means of one or more chemical reactions. A chemical reactor may be characterized by the mode
operation according to the flow condition. (stanley, 1959)

Continuous stirrer tank reactor

Continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTRs) are open systems, where material is free to enter or exit the
system, that operate on a steady-state basis, where the conditions in the reactor don't change with
time. Reactants are continuously introduced into the reactor, while products are continuously
removed. CSTRs are very well mixed, so the contents have relatively uniform properties such as
temperature, density. Also, conditions in the reactor's exit stream are the same as those inside the
tank.
Figure 1 CSTR

A CSTR can also function as a loop reactor when a heated, pressurized fluid is injected into the
system to facilitate the stirring. This allows for higher heat and mass transfer rates while simplifying
maintenance because there is no agitator. The picture below is of a cell culture reactor. An initial
number of cells are placed in the fibrous-bed basket. A nutrient rich medium is continuously fed into
the reactor, and products are harvested. As the cells grow, they produce by-products, which are
continuously removed from the reactor. The reactor below uses a pitched-blade impeller to
continuously mix the reactants. (robert, 1997) , (stanley, 1959)

Figure 2 example for the usage

Industrial usage of CSTR

Continuous stirred-tank reactors are most commonly used in industrial processing, primarily in
homogeneous liquid-phase flow reactions, where constant agitation is required. They may be used by
themselves, in series, or in a battery. CSTRs are also used in the pharmaceutical industry as a loop
reactor.

Figure 3 cstr in pharmaceutical industry

Fermenters are another application of CSTR s that involve the use of a biological catalyst to generate
products. In a fermenter, microbes catalyse a reaction that breaks down much larger molecules into
smaller molecules such as ethanol, methanol, or other hydrocarbons. Vapor product can be removed
from the top of a unit without separation, or liquid product can be removed from the bottom, filtering
out and recycling the microbial media. Fermenters are used in many industries such as brewing,
pharmaceuticals, wastewater treatment, and hydrocarbon processing. The pilot-plant fermenter on
the left has a 500L capacity, while the production scale fermenter on the right has a 12,000L capacity.

Figure 4 (lozowski, 2014)

Advantages

Good temperature control is easily maintained

Cheap to construct

Reactor has large heat capacity

Interior of reactor is easily accessed

(charles, 1977)

Disadvantages

Conversion of reactant to product per volume of reactor is small compared to other flow reactors.
(charles, 1977)

calculations

In case of Ideal Mixing

where Fio is the molar flow rate inlet of species i, Fi the molar flow rate outlet, and Vi stoichiometric
coefficient. The reaction rate, r, is generally dependent on the reactant concentration and the rate
constant (k). The rate constant can be determined by using a known empirical reaction rates that is
adjusted for temperature using the Arrhenius temperature dependence. Generally, as the
temperature increases so does the rate at which the reaction occurs. Residence time, T, is the average
amount of time a discrete quantity of reagent spends inside the tank.

Assume:

constant density (valid for most liquids; valid for gases only if there is no net change in the number of
moles or drastic temperature change) isothermal conditions, or constant temperature (k is constant)

steady state (GA = rAv)

single, irreversible reaction (A = 1)

first-order reaction (r = kCA)

A products
NA = CA V (where CA is the concentration of species A, V is the volume of the reactor, NA is the
number of moles of species A)

CA=CA0/1+KT

To model systems that do not obey the assumptions of constant temperature and a single reaction,
additional dependent variables must be considered. If the system is considered to be in unsteady-
state, a differential equation or a system of coupled differential equations must be solved. CSTR's are
known to be one of the systems which exhibit complex behaviour such as steady-state multiplicity,
limit cycles and chaos. (scoh, 1998)

Procedures
1. The following solutions were prepared:

a) sodium hydroxide, NaOH (0.1 M).

b) ethyl acetate, Et(Ac) (0.1 M).

c) 1 L of hydrochloric acid, HCl for quenching (0.25 M).

2. All valves were initially closed.

3. Feed tanks were charged:

a) Charge port caps were opened for tanks T1 and T2.

b) NaOH solution was carefully poured into vessel T2 and Et(Ac) solution into vessel T1.

c) The charge port caps were closed for both tanks.

4. The power was turned on for the control panel.

5. The heater was not switched on until it was fully submerged in the liquid. Liquid level was
maintained above the heater to avoid damage to the heater.

6. The stirrer assembly was secured properly to avoid damage to the mechanical seal.

7. All tubings were inspected periodically for leakage and worm out. Leakage might cause damage
to equipment by corrosive reactants.

Experimental Procedures

1 Pump P1 was switched on to pump 1.25 L of 0.05 M Ethyl Acetate from the feed tank into reactor.
Pump P1 was switched on.
2. Pump P2 was switched on to pump 1.25 L of 0.05 M Sodium Hydroxide, NaOH, into the reactor.
Pump P2 was stopped when 2.5 L of total volume was reached.

3. The stirrer and the heater were switched on and temperature were sited.

4. The timer was started and After 1 minute of reaction, 50 mL of sample was collected from the
reactor. The sample was titrated with sodium hydroxide, NaOH.

5. Step 4 was repeated for reaction times of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 minutes.

6. The experiment was repeated for temperature of.

7. Titration Procedures

1.

10 mL of 0.25 M hydrochloric acid, HCl, was prepared in a conical flask.

2.

50 mL sample collected was added to the conical flask to quench the saponification reaction.

3.

3 drops of phenolphthalein were added to the conical flask as indicator.

4. The mixture was then titrated with 0.1 M NaOH until it turned light pink (neutralized).

5. The volume of NaOH used was recorded.

a. The cooling water valve from main pipe was kept open to allow the cooling water to continue
flowing.

b. Both pumps P1 and P2 were switched off. The stirrer and heater were switched off to let the
equipment to cool down to room temperature.

c. Cooling water valve from main pipe was closed.

D. The power for control panel was turned off.

e. After each experiment, the reactor tubings were cleaned properly as NaOH and Ethyl Acetate are
corrosive and could damage the tubings.
Results
Table 1results

Time Volume Unreacted reacted of moles of Concentra Ln (CA/CAo) 1/Concentrati

(minute) of NaOH number of moles NaOH tion (N) on
1 0.002 0.0002 0.0008 0.16 0.470004 6.25
8 0.0025 0.00025 0.00075 0.15 0.405465 6.666667
18 0.003 0.0003 0.0007 0.14 0.336472 7.142857
23 0.0032 0.00032 0.00068 0.136 0.307485 7.352941

For zero order reaction

Table 2zero order

Time (minute) Concentration

1 0.16
8 0.15
18 0.14
23 0.136

Zero
0.165

0.16

0.155

0.15

0.145

0.14

0.135 R = 0.9884

0.13
0 5 10 15 20 25

Figure 5 zero order

For first reaction
Table 3first order reaction

Time (minute) Concentration lnCA/Cao

1 0.470004
8 0.4054465
18 0.336472
23 0.307485

First
Series1 Series2 Linear (Series2)
Linear (Series2) Linear (Series2)
0.5

0.4

0.3 R = 0.9925

0.2

0.1

0
0 5 10 15 20 25

Figure 6 first order reaction

For second order reaction

Table 4 second order reaction

Time (minute) 1/Concentration

1 6.25
8 6.667
18 7.143
23 7.353
 Second
Series1 Series2 Series3
Linear (Series2) Linear (Series2) Linear (Series2)
7.6
7.4 R = 0.9957
7.2
7
6.8
6.6
6.4
6.2
6
0 5 10 15 20 25

Figure 7 second order reaction

Discussion
As seen in the above graphs that the concentrations decrease with time which means that the
concentration is inversely proportional to time. Moreover, in our calculations we consider that the
flow rate and temperature is constant as this reaction is isothermal reaction which means that it
does not have any temperature changes. Furthermore, it was clearly noticed that the only graph
which have the best fit is the second order reaction as a result of this we consider that this reaction
is a second order of reaction with constant rate of reaction of 0.0499.

Sources of Errors and Recommendations

1- The apparatus should be clean thoroughly by using deionized water to avoid contamination or
defect in titration process.

2- The colour of light pink that obtained in titration must be same for entire experiment to avoid any
variation in result.

3- Result could be affected if volume taken is slightly late than it should be.
Conclusion
The aim of the experiment was to study the relation between time, concentration, rate of reaction
and the conversion. Moreover, the experiment was carried out when equal volumes of Naoh and Ethyl
acetate were mixed in the continuous sterried tank reactor. Then for the first minute a 50 ml of the
solution was collected to titrate it with 0.1M of naoh then this step was repeated for time 8,18,23 and
the volume of naoh used in the titration were recorded. however, after plotting the zero, first and
second order of reaction graph (concentration, time) it was clearly shown that the reaction is a second
order reaction with reaction rate constant of 0.049. in this experiment calculation we have assumed
that the flow rate and the temperature are constants as in the CSTR there is an isothermal reaction
which means that the temperature is constant. Finally, recommendations has been suggested to
minimize the in accuracy and to get more accurate results.
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