Page 106 - Introduction to chemical reaction engineering and kinetics

88 Chapter 5: Complex Systems

(3) Hydrolysis of methyl acetate or its reverse, esterification of acetic acid

CH,COOCH, + H20* CH,COOH + CH30H

5.1.2 Reactions in Parallel
Examples of reacting systems with networks made up of parallel steps are:
(1) Dehydration and dehydrogenation of C$H,OH VV

QH,OH + GH, + H,O
qH,OH + C,H,O + HZ

(2) Nitration of nitrobenzene to dinitrobenzene

C6H5N0, + HNO, -+ &,H,(NO,), + H,O
C,H5N0, + HNO, + m-C6H,(N0,), + H,O
C,H,NO, + HNO, + P-WUNO,~ + H,O

51.3 Reactions in Series
An example of a reacting system with a network involving reactions in series is the
decomposition of acetone (series with respect to ketene) w
(CH,),CO + CH, + CH,CO(ketene)

CH,CO + &H, + CO

5.1.4 Combinations of Complexities

(1) Series-reversible; decomposition of N,O, (D)

N,O, --f N,O, + LO
2 2
N,O, S 2N0,
(2) Series-parallel

l Partial oxidation of methane to formaldehyde (E)

CH, + O2 + HCHO + H,O
HCHO + ‘0 + CO + H,O
2 2
CH, + 20, + CO, + 2H,O

(This network is series with respect to HCHO and parallel with respect to CH,
and O,.)
l Chlorination of CH, 09

CH, + Cl, + CH,Cl + HCl
CH,Cl + Cl2 + CH2C12 + HCl
CH,Cl, + Cl, + CHCl, + HCl
CHCl, + Cl, + Ccl, + HCl