Problem 3 The hydrogenation of 2-butyne-1,4-diol to butenediol is to be carried out in a slurry reactor using a palladium-based catalyst. The reaction is first-order in hydrogen and in diol. The initial concentration of diol is 2.5 kmol/m³. Pure hydrogen is bubbled through the reactor at a pressure of 35 atm at 35°C. The equilibrium hydrogen solubility at these conditions is 0.01 kmol/m³, and the specific reaction rate is 0.048 m²/kg.kmol.s. The catalyst charge is 0.1 kg/m³ with a particle size of 0.01 cm and pellet density of 1500 kg/m³. a. Calculate the percent of the overall resistance contributed by each of the transport steps. b. Plot conversion as a function of time up to 95%. c. How could the reaction time be reduced? Additional Information: diffusivity = 10 m³/s for H₂ in organics k.a, = 0.3s¹¹ k = 0.005 cm/s for H, in organics k = 0.009 cm/s for 2-butyne-1,4-diol in butenediol pellet density = 1.6 g/cm³ pellet porosity = 0.45

Fig: 1