Acetobacter Aceti bacteria converts ethanol to acetic acid and water under aerobic conditions. C2H5OH + O2 --> CH3COOH + H2O. A continuous fermentation process is proposed for the production of acetic acid using A. aceti cells immobilized on the surface of gelatin beads. The reactor is fed on a continuous basis a mixture of ethanol and water and the ethanol in the feed is consumed completely by the fermentation reaction. The flow rate of the effluent (outlet) liquid stream is 20 kgmol/h, and this stream contains 10 mol% acetic acid (the balance being water). The reactor is also being fed on a continuous basis with dry air (79 mol% N2 and 21 mol% O2) at a rate of 20 kgmol/h and the effluent gas stream is in equilibrium with the effluent liquid. The reactor operates at atmospheric pressure. The vapor pressure of water and acetic acid at the reaction temperature are 20 and 15 mm Hg respectively. What is the flow rate of the ethanol-water feed mixture and its composition? What is the composition of the effluent gas stream?
Acetobacter Aceti bacteria converts ethanol to acetic acid and water under aerobic conditions.
C2H5OH + O2 --> CH3COOH + H2O.
A continuous fermentation process is proposed for the production of acetic acid using A. aceti cells immobilized on the surface of gelatin beads. The reactor is fed on a continuous basis a mixture of ethanol and water and the ethanol in the feed is consumed completely by the fermentation reaction. The flow rate of the effluent (outlet) liquid stream is 20 kgmol/h, and this stream contains 10 mol% acetic acid (the balance being water). The reactor is also being fed on a continuous basis with dry air (79 mol% N2 and 21 mol% O2) at a rate of 20 kgmol/h and the effluent gas stream is in equilibrium with the effluent liquid. The reactor operates at atmospheric pressure. The vapor pressure of water and acetic acid at the reaction temperature are 20 and 15 mm Hg respectively. What is the flow rate of the ethanol-water feed mixture and its composition? What is the composition of the effluent gas stream?
Step by step
Solved in 4 steps with 16 images
