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In this experiment a 4% solution
of ethyl acetate in water is pumped through a rotameter and a small stainless
steel heat exchanger to a jacketed glass vessel containing a bed of ion exchange
resin in acid form.
A magnetic drive pump circulates water from a glass vessel
to both the heat exchanger and the reactor jacket. A PID controller is used to
control the power to a resistance heater in the water bath, and can also be
used to control the reactor effluent temperature. In the reactor ethyl acetate
is hydrolyzed to ethanol and acetic acid.
The students collect and time the
reactor effluent to determine the flow rate, and titrate the effluent sample
using 0.5N NaOH to determine the conversion of ethyl acetate. Usually three
temperatures and three flow rates are run.
From the data on conversion as a function of
temperature and feed rate, the students determine reaction rate constants and
the activation energy.
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