Answer to Question #154963 in Organic Chemistry for Daniel

Question

Equation 1:       C₈H₁₈    →    C₄H₁₀    +    2C₂H₄

Equation 2:        C₂H₄    +    H₂O    →    C₂H₅OH

(ii)     Describe, as fully as you can, the conditions used for the two reactions to produce ethanol from octane.

Use Equation 1 and Equation 2 to help you with your answer.

Answer 1

Ethylene and iso-butane react isothermally in a stoichiometric isothermal reactor at 93°C to produce n octane. The key component that limits the reaction conversion is taken as ethylene, with an overall conversion of 98%. The pressure drop across the reactor is specified at 5 psi. The reaction is

2CH + C H2O → C8H18

flash column is added to the reactor effluent to separate the unconverted raw materials from the A desired product. A pressure drop of 2 psi is introduced while the operating temperature is maintained the same as that of the reactor. The more-volatile compounds (ethylene, isobutane, and other impurities) are flashed to the top product stream together with a small portion of the heavier product, n-octane, while the remaining n-octane leaves at the bottom.