Problem 1 A classmate of yours was doing research on heterogeneous catalysis with Prof.

Regalbuto examining the hydrodechlorination of chlorobenzene over Pd/Al2O3 catalysts. She tells you that she is really happy because she found that the activation energy went down as she increased the reaction temperature. One of Dr. Meyers annoying graduate students overhears and says, Thats not good. Who is right and why?

Dr. Meyers annoying student is correct. What your classmate has observed is the that the activation energy is now an average of the reaction barrier and the diffusion barrier. This is not good since now the reaction is mass transfer limited.
The dashed line shows the mass transfer limitation taking over at high T

Ln k

1/T

Problem 2
The reactions listed below are taking place in a porous slab with length L. Both reactions are first order and irreversible. The rate constant k1 is high and k2 is low. The effective diffusivities of A and B in the catalyst particle are approximately the same. The concentrations of A and B at the surface of the particle are the same.
k1 A V k2 B W

a) Sketch the concentration profiles of A and B in the particle for a situation where the effectiveness factor for the reaction AV is approximately 0.5. b) If W is the undesired by-product, explain briefly in words whether it is desirable or undesirable to have a significant pore diffusion resistance?

CAs
=0.2 Concentration

CB

CA

=2.0 position R

b) Its undesirable to have significant mass transfer resistance. If the reaction constant for formation of the valuable product is large compared to the formation of the waste product this means that the effectiveness factor for the AV reaction is lower than that for the BW. This means we need to push our system back to a smaller pellet size (or lower temperature) to make it so that both effectiveness factors are unity.

Problem 3

At a fixed O2 pressure for the reaction: CO + O2 CO2 the CO pressure increased from zero to a large number. If the reaction follows the LangmuirHinshelwood mechanism, what happens to the rate of reaction? A. Goes through a maximum B. Goes through a minimum C. Increases slowly at first, then more rapidly D. Increases rapidly at first, then more slowly

Problem 4

Consider a porous catalyst sphere. Plots for CA in the catalyst pellet vs. distance into the pellet are shown. Which plot is most likely corresponding to a very slow reaction? A B CA D r=R r=0 C

CAb
R r

Problem 5

A plot of rate versus distance along an adiabatic PFR for a 1st-order reaction is shown below (original). What will the plot look like if the feed temperature were increased? B A Rate Original C D

Distance down the reactor

Problem 6

Which plot is closest to the expected CA vs. distance down an adiabatic PFR for the endothermic reaction A B.

CA

CA

Distance

Distance

CA

CA
D

Distance
E. None of the above

Distance

Problem 7

An adiabatic CSTR is used for a 1st-order, exothermic reaction. Because of a process upset, the inlet temperature is nearing that where one would expect thermal runaway. An operator suggests decreasing the flow rate through the reactor. Is this a good idea? A. Yes B. No C. Maybe

Problem 8

The reaction at the Anode for a direct methanol fuel cell is best written as:

A B C D

CH 3OH + H 2O 6 H + + 6e + CO2 CH 3OH 4 H + + 4e + CO CH 4 + H 2O 6 H + + 6e + CO O2 + 4 H + + 4e 2 H 2O