Seat No.: ________ Enrolment No.

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GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

BE - SEMESTER–VII (NEW) EXAMINATION – WINTER 2022
Subject Code:3170501 Date:03-01-2023
Subject Name:Chemical Reactions Engineering II
Time:10:30 AM TO 01:00 PM Total Marks:70
Instructions:
1. Attempt all questions.
2. Make suitable assumptions wherever necessary.
3. Figures to the right indicate full marks.
4. Simple and non-programmable scientific calculators are allowed.
MARKS

Q.1 (a) Discuss in brief the fluid – solid reactions in which the solid does not 03
appreciably change in size during reaction with suitable example.
(b) A batch of solids of uniform size is treated by gas in a uniform 04
environment. Solid is converted to give a non-flaking product according
to the shrinking-core model. Conversion is about 7/8 for a reaction time
of 1 h; conversion is complete in two hours. What mechanism is rate
controlling?
(c) Gas containing A contacts and reacts with a semi-infinite slab of the solid 07
B as A(g) + B(s)  R(g) + S(s). As reaction progresses, a sharp reaction plane
advances slowly into the solid leaving behind it a layer of product through
which gaseous A and R must diffuse. Overall three resistances act in series
that of the gas film, the ash layer, and the reaction. Noting that the rate of
thickening of the ash layer is proportional to the rate of reaction at that
C
 M rA  and the product layer diffusion rate = D e
dL
instant or . If
dt L
L2
diffusion through ash layer controls, show that t Ash Layer 
2 M D e C Ag

Q.2 (a) Explain in brief about monolithic catalyst and molecular sieves. 03
(b) The rate law hydrogenation (H) of ethylene (E) to form ethane (A) over a 04
cobalt – molybdenum catalyst is:
k PE PH
 rE 
1  k E PE
Suggest a mechanism and rate limiting step consistent with the rate law.
(c) An instantaneous reaction takes place between gas A and spherical solid 07
B giving rise to a hot solid product S and gaseous product R. The rate of
consumption of A is same as that of formation of R. Assume that reaction
is reversible and gas film resistance is negligible. Show that flux of gas A
through the exterior surface of solid is
De rc CAg  CAe 
QAS 
R R  rc 

1
 where De is diffusivity of gas A through solid, CAg & CAe are bulk and
equilibrium concentration of gas A respectively, R & rc are radius of solid
particle and unreacted core respectively. How does above equation is
simplified when reaction goes to completion?
OR
(c) Spherical particles of zinc blende of size R = 1 mm are roasted in an 8% 07
oxygen stream at 900°C and 1 atm. The stoichiometry of the reaction is:
2ZnS + 3O2  2ZnO + 2SO2. Assuming that reaction proceeds by the
shrinking – core model. Calculate the time needed for complete
conversion of a particle and the relative resistance of ash layer diffusion
during this operation. Data: Density of solid, B = 4.13 gm/cm3, reaction
rate constant, k" = 2 cm/sec, for gases in the ZnO layer, De = 0.08 cm2/sec,
molecular weight of Zn = 65.38 g/mol and S = 32 g/mol. Note that film
resistance can safely be neglected as long as a growing ash layer is present.

Q.3 (a) Discuss the spectrum of kinetic regimes for porous catalyst surrounded by 03
a reactant.
(b) Discuss steps involved in catalytic reaction with neat sketch. 04
(c) Write a detailed note on: catalyst promoters, inhibitors and poisons. 07
OR
Q.3 (a) Distinguish between van der Waal’s adsorption and activated adsorption 03
with suitable example.
(b) The desorption of gaseous species C from active site “S” of catalyst is 04
given as C. S ⇌ C + S. Derive the rate law for desorption phenomena.
(c) Discuss about the surface area determination of catalysts by mercury 07
penetration method.

Q.4 (a) Discuss the steps to determine the volume of reactor for mass transfer and 03
reaction in agitated tank contactor for mixed flow of gas and liquid.
(b) Write a short note on slurry reactor. 04
(c) Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) of 0.10 % by volume in a carrier gas at 2 MPa is 07
to be absorbed at 20 oC by a solution containing 250 mol/m3
methanolamine (MEA). H2S reacts with MEA irreversibly as per the
following reaction. If the diffusivity of MEA in solution is 0.64 times that
of H2S, calculate the enhancement factor for the given reaction.
H2S + MEA  HS– + RNH3+
Data: KAl, a = 0.03 sec–1, KAg, a = 6  10– 4 mol/(sec m3 Pa), Henry’s law
constant for H2S in water HA = 10 Pa m3/mol.
OR
Q.4 (a) State the various types of tower and tank contactors for gas – liquid 03
reaction.
(b) Write a short note on trickle bed reactor. 04
(c) It is proposed to remove CO2 from air by counter current contact with 07
water at 25 oC. (i) Calculate the resistances offered by the gas and liquid
film (ii) Suggest the simplest form of rate equation for tower design.

2
 Data: Kg.a = 0.8 mol/hr m3 Pa, Kl.a = 25 / hr, Henry’s constant H = 3000
Pa m3 / mol.

Q.5 (a) State the mass transfer correlations for fluidized bed catalytic reactor. 03
(b) Write merits and demerits of fixed bed reactors. 04
(c) Discuss the experimental methods for finding rate law consistent with 07
experimental data with suitable example.
OR
Q.5 (a) What is meant by interphase effectiveness factor for isothermal catalytic 03
reaction?
(b) Write algorithm for determining reaction mechanism, rate limiting step 04
and rate law for isomerization of n-pentene to i-pentene over alumina as a
catalyst.
(c) Derive design equation for packed bed catalytic reactor. 07

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