Consider the production of a synthetic fuel (methanol) from coal. A gas mixture of 50% CO and 50% H2 leaves a coal gasifier at 500 K, 1 MPa, and enters a catalytic converter. A gas mixture of methanol, CO and H2 in chemical equilibrium with the reaction: CO + 2H2 ⇔ CH3OH leaves the converter at the same temperature and pressure, where it is known that ln K = -5.119.
a. Calculate the equilibrium composition of the mixture leaving the converter.
b. Would it be more desirable to operate the converter at ambient pressure?