BATCH REACTOR

Omar Osama 135623

Contents
Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Experimental Procedures ........................................................................................................................ 4
Experimental Results .............................................................................................................................. 5
Discussion................................................................................................................................................ 6
Sources of Error ...................................................................................................................................... 7
References .............................................................................................................................................. 8

1
Abstract

The aim of this experiment is to determine the rate constants value and order of a
homogenous liquid phase reaction between caustic soda and ethyl acetate in a batch reactor.
This will be accomplished by mixing caustic soda and ethyl acetate in the reactor and starting
a timer to record certain intervals. At a certain interval, withdraw a sample from the reactor
using a pipette and quench it with HCl, then add a few drops of phenolphthalein and titrate
the mixture with NaOH till endpoint. Note the volume till endpoint and calculate the
unreacted HCl to determine required HCl needed till endpoint. Repeat the procedure at each
specific interval. We will plot a table of concentration (Ca) and time to note down during the
experiment procedure, and we will use this table to draw two graphs relating ln(Cai/Coi)
versus time and 1/Cao versus time. We will then use these calculations to determine the order
of the reaction and the reaction rate constant.

2
Introduction

Chemical kinetics is the study of chemical reactions, and how different variables can affect
the chemical reactions speed and yield. It also discusses the reaction rates, intermediates
formation and atoms re-arrangement. Chemical kinetics studies helps to predict rate of
chemical reactions, there are also factors that must be looked into when predicting the rate of
reaction, like, temperature, pressure, concentration of reactants and the presence of a catalyst.
(University of Waterloo, n.d.). These factors effects chemical reaction rates, which is the rate
of change of reactants or products concentration. Rate laws are used to determine and find
reaction rates, they are divided into groups depending on the reactions order. (Helmenstine,
2017).

Rate = k is used for zero-order reactions, it is constant and concentration

independent.
Rate = k[A] is used for first-order reactions and is proportional to concentration of
reactant.
Rate = k[A]2 or k[A][B] is used for second-order reactions is proportional to square
of reactants concentration or product of two reactants.

A batch reactor is a simple chemical reactor used in chemical industries, the reactors is
charged via two holes on top of the tank, nothing is fed or taken out of the reactor during the
reaction process. Batch reactors are used frequently in liquid phase reactions that requires
long reaction duration like beverage and dairy processes. It can also be used when small
amount of a product is desired with high quality like in pharmaceutical industries. Batch
reactors are versatile and can produce many products consecutively without interruption, it is
also easy to operate and clean. (Universty Of Michigan , n.d.).

3
Experimental Procedures

1. Mix 0.5 Litre of the 0.1M caustic soda solution with 0.5 litre of the 0.1M ethyl actate
solution. Switch the stirrer and begin recording time.
2. After a certain time interval, remove 5ml sample from the reactor using a pipette and
quench the sample with 10ml of 0.1N HCl. Add 2 drops of phenolphthalein to the
sample and titrate the mixture with 0.1N NaOH until the endpoint is reached and note
down the end point volume.
3. Repeat the procedure every 5 minutes.

4
Experimental Results

Time (Minute) Volume of NaOH Unreacted no. of Reacted no. of Concentration (N)
moles of NaOH moles of NaOH
0 0 0 0 0.1

5 0.0063 0.00063 0.00037 0.074

10 0.007 0.0007 0.0003 0.06

15 0.0075 0.00075 0.00025 0.05

20 0.0078 0.00078 0.00022 0.044

25 0.0082 0.00082 0.00018 0.036

First order reactions

Time (Minutes) Ln(CA/CAo)

0 -23.0259

5 -26.0369

10 -28.1341

15 -29.9573

20 -31.2357

25 -33.2424

30
25
Ln(CA/CAo)

20
15
10
5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (Minutes)

5
Second order reactions
Time (Minutes) 1/CAo
0 10
5 13.5135
10 16.6667
15 20
20 22.7273
25 27.7778

30
25
20
1/CAo

15
10
5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (Minutes)

Discussion
From the results above we concluded that the concentration decreases overtime, and we were
able to prove that CAo for both first and second order reactions, decreases exponentially over
time.

6
Sources of Error

One of the human errors that can occur is during titration, a wrong reading of volume end
point can be noted down thus decreasing the accuracy of the results. This can be avoided by a
slow and careful titration till end point. Inaccurate measurement of reactants volumes can
also cause inaccuracy of results, this can be avoided by measuring the volume of reactants
carefully. Room temperature should not fluctuate and should remain constant so it does not
interfere with the chemical reaction.

7
References
Helmenstine, A. M. (2017, February 11). Chemical Kinetics Definition. Retrieved from ThoughtCo.:
https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-chemical-kinetics-604907

University of Waterloo. (n.d.). Chemical Kinetics. Retrieved from University Of Waterloo:

http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~cchieh/cact/c123/chmkntcs.html

Universty Of Michigan . (n.d.). Batch. Retrieved from Visual Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering:
http://encyclopedia.che.engin.umich.edu/Pages/Reactors/Batch/Batch.html