Propylene is hydrogenated in a batch reactor: C3H6 (g) + H2 (g) → C3H8 (g) Equimolar amounts of propylene and hydrogen are fed into the reactor at 25°C and a total absolute pressure of 32.0 atm. The reactor temperature is raised to 235°C and held constant thereafter until the reaction is complete. The propylene conversion at the beginning of the isothermal period is 53.2%. You may assume ideal gas behavior for this problem, although at the high pressures involved this assumption constitutes a crude approximation at best.
(a) What is the final reactor pressure?
(b) What is the percentage conversion of propylene when P = 35.1 atm?
(c) Construct a graph of pressure versus fractional conversion of propylene covering the isothermal period of operation. Use the graph to confirm the results in parts (a) and (b). (Suggestion: Use a spreadsheet.)