Answer to Question #5740 in Physical Chemistry for Alisha

Question

A mixture of air and methanol vapour is fed to a converter in which the following reactions take place:

CH3 OH + 1/2 O2 Prodeuces HCHO + H2 O,

CH3 OH Produces HCHO + H2

In addition, some methanol is completely oxidised to CO2 and water. 25% of the methanol feed leaves the converter unreacted. After condensation of the unreacted methanol, formaldehyde (HCHO) and water vapour, the gas stream contains: 17% H2, 75% N2 and 3% O2 & 5% CO2 by moles.
Calculate
a) The ratio of air to methanol in the feed

b) The yield of formaldehyde from methanol (moles HCHO/mole CH3OH feed)