To oxidize acetaldehyde to acetic acid, the following reaction is carried out:
2CH3COH + O2 ---> 2CH3COOH.
The reactor is fed with a stream of 62mol/h of CH3COH and the O2 is administered with a 120% excess from air. If the conversion of CH3COH is 92%. determine:

1. The current of stoichiometric O2 consumed considering the conversion percentage.
2. The composition of the output current in one hour of operation.
3. Why is a large excess of O2 applied in the process and what parameter of this problem is this fact related to?

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

1 To determine the stoichiometric O2 consumed based on the conversion percentage of CH3COH we first need to write and balance the reaction 2CH3COH O2 ... View the full answer