Optimum Fractional Conversion for Chemical Reactions at Equilibrium

Abstract

Although it is generally accepted that the fractional conversion of a given species in an equilibrium reaction can be increased by adding an excess of the other reactants, it is shown that this is not uniformly correct. In fact, it is found that under some circumstances, adding a large excess of the other reactants can actually decrease the fractional conversion of the component it is wished to react. Equations are developed from which to determine the feed composition which leads to the maximum fractional conversion of a given species.^Xlthough much attention has been given to determining the effect of reaction conditions (pressure and temperature) on the equilibrium compositions of a reacting mixture, much less attention has been devoted to the question of preparing reactant feed streams which lead to optimum equilibrium conversions at the specified reaction conditions. In this