The production of ethylene glycol from ethylene chlorohydrin and sodium bicarbonate
CH2OHCH2Cl + NaHCO3 → (CH2OH)2 + NaCl + CO2↑
is carried out in a semibatch reactor. A 1.5-molar solution of ethylene chlorohydrin is fed at a rate of 0.1 mol/min to 1500 dm³ of a 0.75-molar solution of sodium bicarbonate. The reaction is elementary and carried out isothermally at 30°C where the specific reaction rate is 5.1 dm³/mol/h. Higher temperatures produce unwanted side reactions. The reactor can hold a maximum of 2500 dm³ of liquid. Assume constant density.
a. Plot and analyze the conversion, reaction rate, concentration of reactants and products, and number of moles of glycol formed as a function of time.
b. Suppose the ethylene chlorohydrin is fed at a rate of 0.15 mol/min until the reactor is full and then shut in. Plot the conversion as a function of time.