INDEX

S.No
1.

Contents
OBJECTIVE

2.

APPARATUS REQUIRED

3.

INTRODUCTION

4.

THEORY

5.

DIAGRAM

6.

PROCEDURE

7.

OBSERVATION TABLE

8.

CALCULATIONS

9.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

10.

PRECAUTIONS

11.

REFERENCES

Page No

OBJECTIVE
To carry out a non-catalytic homogeneous reaction of NaOH and ethyl acetate
in a series of 3 CSTRs and
i.
ii.

To study the performance of a cascade of 3 equal volume CSTR in series.

To draw the performance chart for the reactor system and evaluate the
reaction rate constant at ambient condition.

APPARATUS REQUIRED
Apparatus
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.
xi.

Measuring cylinder (1000ml)

Measuring cylinder (50ml)
Pipette (5ml/10ml)
Burette (25ml)
Conical flask (100ml)
Beaker (100ml)
Volumetric flask
Bucket
Mug
Thermometer
Conical funnel

REAGENTS REQUIRED
Reagents
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

NaOH pellets
HCl
Ethyl acetate
Sodium carbonate
Phenolphthalein indicator

Quantity
1
1
1
1
4
3
1
2
1
1
1

INTRODUCTION
Reactor is one of the most important parts in industrial sector. Reactor is
equipment that changes the raw material to the product we want. A good reactor
will give a high production and be economical. One of the criterions to choose a
good reactor is to know the effectiveness of the reactor itself. One of the most
important we need to know in the various chemical reaction was the rate of
reaction. By studying the reaction of ethyl acetate and NaOH to form sodium
acetate in CSTR, we can evaluate the rate data needed to design in production
scale reactor.
The main feature of CSTR reactor is that mixing is complete so that the
properties such as temperature and concentration of reaction were uniform in all
parts of vessel. In experiment, the ethyl and NaOH with equal volume are
mixed. Then the experiment is started by mixing them using CSTR. After 5
mins we will take a solution and mix them with HCl, and then it is titrated with
NaOH. The amount of NaOH used in titration is taken in the result. The
procedure is repeated for the next sample that has been taken after 10,15,20
minutes.

THEORY
Ideal steady-state flow reactor is called the mixed reactor, the back mix reactor,
the ideal stirred tank reactor, the C* (meaning C-star), CSTR, or the CFSTR
(constant flow stirred tank reactor), and, as its names suggest, it is a reactor in
which the contents are well stirred and uniform throughout. Thus, the exit
stream from this reactor has the same composition as the fluid within the
reactor. We refer to this type of flow as mixed flow.
Since the composition is uniform throughout, the accounting may be made
about the reactor as a whole.

If FA0, = oCAo is the molar feed rate of component A to the reactor, then
considering the reactor as a whole we have

Introducing these three terms into balance equation, we obtain

which on rearrangement becomes

or

where XA and rA are measured at exit stream conditions, which are the same as
the conditions within the reactor.

Graphical representation of these CSTR performance equations-

EQUAL SIZE OF CSTR IN SERIES

Consider a system of N mixed flow reactors connected in series.
Though the concentration is uniform in each reactor, there is, nevertheless, a
change in concentration as fluid moves from reactor to reactor. This stepwise
drop in concentration suggests that the larger the number of units in series, the
closer should the behaviour of the system approach plug flow.

First-Order Reactions. From a material balance for component A about vessel

i gives

Because = 0 this may be written in terms of concentrations. Hence

Now the space-time (or mean residence time t) is the same in all the equal size
reactors of volume Vi. Therefore

Rearranging, we find for the system as a whole

In the limit, for N , this equation reduces to the plug flow equation

Second-Order Reactions.

DIAGRAM

Schematic Diagram of 3
CSTR in series

PROCEDURE
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

vi.
vii.

viii.

Prepare 10L solution of M/100 NaOH and M/100 ethyl acetate.

Fix the flow rate to CSTRs using rotameter at equimolar reactant flow rate.
Switch on the stirrer of the 1st CSTR, when the level of the feed reaches at the
stirrer of the impeller level.
Similarly switch on the stirrer of the other reactors when the reaction mixture
reaches the desired level.
Once steady state is obtained, take out a10 ml sample of the reaction mixture
using a pipette from the 1st CSTR 5mins after overflow starts and transfer this
reaction mixture immediately into a conical flask containing 20ml of N/40 HCl
to quench the reaction. Titrate 10 ml of aliquot of the resulting solution against
N/100 NaOH.
Repeat the process for CSTR no. 2 and 3 in that order.
To find out initial concentration CAO transfer 5ml NaOH in a conical flask
containing 20ml of N/40 HCl and add 5ml ethyl acetate in it. Titrate 10ml of
aliquot of the resulting solution against N/100 NaOH.
Carry out steps 1to 6 for another flow rate of reactants.

CALCULATIONS & GRAPHS

1. CALCULATION FOR CA0 (INITIAL CONCENTRATION)
Volume of aliquot sample = 30ml
Volume of NaOH consumed = 3.7 ml
Volume of HCl consumed in titration = V1 ml
N1VI = N2V2
V1 = ((40/N)*3.7)/ (100) = 1.48ml
Volume of HCl reacted with feed solution
V4 = 20-1.48 = 18.52ml
So, concentration of solution initially
N1V4 = N3V3
N3 = (N/40)*(18.52/10) = 0.0463N
Normality = Molarity = 0.0463mol/lit
2. CALCULATION FOR COCENTRATION AT FLOW RATE = 6LPH
I. For CSTR 1
Volume of aliquot sample = 30ml
Volume of NaOH consumed = 5.2 ml
Volume of HCl consumed in titration = V1 ml
N1VI = N2V2
V1 = ((40/N)*5.2)/ (100) = 2.08ml
Volume of HCl reacted with feed solution
V4 = 20-2.08 = 17.92ml
So, concentration of solution
N1V4 = N3V3
N3 = (N/40)*(17.92/10) = 0.0448N
Normality = Molarity = 0.0448mol/lit
II. For CSTR 2
Volume of aliquot sample = 30ml
Volume of NaOH consumed = 5.4 ml
Volume of HCl consumed in titration = V1 ml
N1VI = N2V2
V1 = ((40/N)*5.4)/ (100) = 2.16ml
Volume of HCl reacted with feed solution
V4 = 20-2.16 = 17.84ml
So, concentration of solution
N1V4 = N3V3
N3 = (N/40)*(17.84/10) = 0.0446N
Normality = Molarity = 0.0446mol/lit

III. For CSTR 3

Volume of aliquot sample = 30ml
Volume of NaOH consumed = 5.6 ml
Volume of HCl consumed in titration = V1 ml
N1VI = N2V2
V1 = ((40/N)*5.6)/ (100) = 2.24ml
Volume of HCl reacted with feed solution
V4 = 20-2.24 = 17.76ml
So, concentration of solution
N1V4 = N3V3
N3 = (N/40)*(17.76/10) = 0.0444N
Normality = Molarity = 0.0444mol/lit
Thus for flow rate = 6LPH
CA0 = 0.0463 mol/lit
CA1 = 0.0448 mol/lit
CA2 = 0.0446 mol/lit
CA3 = 0.0444 mol/lit

3. CALCULATION FOR COCENTRATION AT FLOW RATE = 9LPH

I.

For CSTR 1
Volume of aliquot sample = 30ml
Volume of NaOH consumed = 4.2 ml
Volume of HCl consumed in titration = V1 ml
N1VI = N2V2
V1 = ((40/N)*4.2)/ (100) = 1.68ml
Volume of HCl reacted with feed solution
V4 = 20-1.68 = 18.32ml
So, concentration of solution
N1V4 = N3V3
N3 = (N/40)*(18.32/10) = 0.0458N
Normality = Molarity = 0.0458mol/lit

II.

For CSTR 2
Volume of aliquot sample = 30ml
Volume of NaOH consumed = 4.6 ml
Volume of HCl consumed in titration = V1 ml
N1VI = N2V2
V1 = ((40/N)*4.6)/ (100) = 1.84ml
Volume of HCl reacted with feed solution
V4 = 20-1.84 = 18.16ml

So, concentration of solution

N1V4 = N3V3
N3 = (N/40)*(18.16/10) = 0.0454N
Normality = Molarity = 0.0454mol/lit
III.

For CSTR 3
Volume of aliquot sample = 30ml
Volume of NaOH consumed = 4.8 ml
Volume of HCl consumed in titration = V1 ml
N1VI = N2V2
V1 = ((40/N)*4.8)/ (100) = 1.92ml
Volume of HCl reacted with feed solution
V4 = 20-1.92 = 18.08ml
So, concentration of solution
N1V4 = N3V3
N3 = (N/40)*(18.08/10) = 0.0452N
Normality = Molarity = 0.0452mol/lit

Thus for flow rate = 9LPH

CA0 = 0.0463 mol/lit
CA1 = 0.0458 mol/lit
CA2 = 0.0454 mol/lit
CA3 = 0.0452 mol/lit
4. CALCULATION FOR SPACE TIME
Space-time = V/

= Volume of the reactor/Flow rate of fluid (vol.)

o

Reactor is cylindrical in shape (V) = 2 /4 = 1.091*10-3 m3

For flow rate 6LPH
Total flow rate of fluid = 2*6 = (12*10-3)/3600 m3/s
= (1.091*10-3*3600)/12*10-3 = 327.31 sec
For flow rate 9LPH
Total flow rate of fluid = 2*9 = (18*10-3)/3600 m3/s
= (1.091*10-3*3600)/18*10-3 = 218.06 sec

5. GRAPH BETWEEN (CA)n &(CA)n-1

0.046
0.0458
0.0456

CA(n)

0.0454
0.0452
0.045
0.0448
0.0446
0.0444
0.0442
0.0444

0.0446

0.0448

0.045

0.0452

0.0454

0.0456

0.0458

0.046

0.0462

0.0464

CA(n-1)
6 LPH

9 LPH

6. PERFORMANCE CHART CSTR IN SERIES

Performance Chart
0.046

CONCENTRATION CA

0.0458
0.0456
0.0454
0.0452

0.045
0.0448
0.0446
0.0444
0.0442
0

200

400

600

TIME (IN SEC)

6 LPH

9 LPH

800

1000

1200

7. CALCULATION OF RATE CONSTANT

For equal size reactor in series we have,
1
k = [(C0/C1)1/N 1]

(According to graph, reaction order is 1st)

For flow rate 6LPH
= 327.31 sec
CA0 = 0.0463 mol/lit
CA3 = 0.0444 mol/lit
So,
k = 4.2973*10-5 sec
For flow rate 9LPH
= 218.06 sec
CA0 = 0.0463 mol/lit
CA3 = 0.0452 mol/lit
So,
k = 3.69*10-5 sec
k (average) = (4.2973*10-5 + 3.69*10-5)/2 = 4*10-5 sec

RESULTS
The first order reaction rate is found to have value equal to 4.0*10-5 sec.
The performance chart for three CSTR of equal volume connected in series
is found as attached graph.

CONCLUSIONS
The behaviour of equal volume CSTR connected in series tends to PFR by
increasing the same number of reactors.
For the same interval of time the conversion is lower from any CSTR for
higher feed flow rates.

PRECAUTIONS
i.
ii.
iii.

iv.
v.

Wash all the apparatus before and after doing the experiment.
Steady state should be obtained before start of sampling time, t=0 and
should be assumed carefully after steady state.
For NaOH solution after preparing it, it should be titrated with oxalic acid
to determine exact normality. Normality is changed due to hydroscopic
nature of NaOH.
Solution of all components should be prepared accurately.
Time measurement and titration should be done accurately.

REFERENCES
i.
ii.

Octave Levenspiel, Chemical Reaction Engineering., 3rd edition.

Jones, R.W., Chemical Engineering Programme., 47,46.