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( 1 5 pts ) Consider a process for the partial oxidation of benzene to produce maleic anhydride ( C 4 H 2 O 3

(15 pts) Consider a process for the partial oxidation of benzene to produce maleic anhydride
(C4H2O3) using air. There are two reactions to be concerned with: The first partially oxidizes the
Benzene to produce maleic acid along with carbon dioxide and water. The second, undesired
reaction, fully oxidizes the benzene. The process used is as follows:
Benzene Purification: The benzene flows into a pressurized still with water at 23.2a. The liquid
in the still is 80% benzene by mass. Energy is supplied to keep the mixture at its boiling point (180F)
resulting in a vapor mixture of pure water and pure benzene. The contaminates along with waste
benzene flow out as a liquid.
Reaction: The vapor stream is mixed with enough air relative humidity) to
provide an 181 molar ratio of oxygen/benzene entering the reactor. At the exit to the reactor an
analysis of the gasses (mole, dry basis) shows 0.76% maleic acid )shows 0.76% maleic acid (C4H4O4,) and 80.0% nitrogen.
3) Stripping: The exit gasses from the reactor flow into a water scrubber operating at 1 atm. Pure
water enters the top of the column and the reactor outlet gas enters the bottom. The water scrubs
out the maleic acid where it exits as a liquid at the bottom of the column with a concentration of
(mole %)12% C4H4O4,88% water. Exiting the top of the column as a gas are all of the unreacted
benzene, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. This gas stream exits at 142\deg F saturated with water.
4) Drying: The liquid stream from the scrubber goes to a dryer where the water is driven off leaving
pure maleic anhydride
What is (use pound moles):
a. The moles of benzene that are completely oxidized in the reactor per mole of benzene fed into the
reactor? (i.e. the moles benzene used in the second reaction per mole fed)
b. The pounds of water leaving the dryer per mole of benzene fed into the reactor?
c. The composition of the gas leaving the scrubber (mole percent, wet basis)?
d. The pounds of water added to the top of the scrubber per mole of benzene fed into the reactor?
Need help with a,b,c,d and diagrams as well
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