6. Multiple Reactions

Additional Homework Problems

CDP6-26_B

The following hydrodealkylation reactions occur over a Houdry Detol catalyst near 800 K and 3500 kPa:

The feed is equimolar in hydrogen and pentamethylbenzene.

1. For an entering volumetric flow rate of 1 dm³/s, what ratio of hydrogen to pentamethylbenzene and what PFR reactor volume would you recommend to maximize the formation of C₆H₄(CH₃)₂ (i.e., C₈)? [Hint:Plot the overall selectivity as a function of reactor volume.]
   
   
2. How would your answer change if you were to maximize the overall selectivity of C₈ to C₉, i.e.S₈₉? Of C₈ to C₇?
   
   
3. What do you think the point of this problem to be?

Make a plot of the mole fraction of each component as a function of conversion of pentamethylbenzene. Make a plot of the mole fraction of each component as a function of PFR volume. Discuss any optimization that could be done.

[3rd Ed. P6-16]