Question

P4.36 100 gmol/min of a solution of 70 mol % ethanol/30 mol % water is fed to a reactor operating at steady state, along with 80 gmol/min of air (79 mol

% N₂, 21 mol % O₂). Ethanol (C₂H5OH) reacts with oxygen to make acetaldehyde (CH,CHO). Acetaldehyde is further oxidized to acetic acid (CH₂COOH). Write the two stoichiometrically balanced chemical equations. What is the byproduct of the reactions? What is the limiting reactant? If there is 100% conversion of the limiting reactant and the production rate of acetaldehyde is 25 gmol/min, calculate the fractional conversion of the excess reactant, the yield of acetaldehyde from ethanol, and the composition and flow rate of the reactor effluent stream.

Fig: 1