A chemical manufacturer produces ethylene oxide by burning ethylene gas with air

Question

A chemical manufacturer produces ethylene oxide by burning ethylene gas with air in the presence of a catalyst. If the conditions are carefully controlled, a substantial fraction of the ethylene is converted to ethylene oxide, while some ethylene remain remains unconverted and some is completely oxidized to form carbon dioxide and water. Formation of carbon monoxide is negligible. After the gases leave the reactor, they are passed through an absorber, in which the ethylene oxide is removed. A typical Orsat (dry basis) analysis of the gases leaving the absorber is as follows: 9.6% CO_2, 3.0% O_2, and 6.4% ethylene. Of the ethylene entering the reactor, what percent is converted to ethylene oxide?

Explanation / Answer

Consider 100 g of the gas leaving the reactor.

The gas leaving the reactor cntains CO2, O2, ethylene(C2H4), ethylene oxide (C2H4O) and N2

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