Elementary Applications of FirstOrder, First Degree

Ordinary Differential Equations

Mixing Problems

Given: A chemical solution or mixture whose volume at time, t = 0 is known, together with the amount (in
weight) of a particular substance present in the solution or mixture.

Ri, Ci

A1, V1

Ro, Co
Condition: The solution containing the particular substance, runs into the given solution and the resulting
mixture, kept uniform by stirring, runs out of the tank.

Problem: The determination of the amount of the particular substance in the resulting mixture at any time.

Solution: For this chemical process, the basic equation in differential form is,

=


=

Where:
A = Amount (in weight) of the particular substance or chemical that is dissolved in the
solution, varies with time

= Rate of change of amount A with respect to time

Ri = Fluid inflow rate (volume per unit time)

Ro = Fluid outflow rate (volume per unit time)
V1 = Initial volume of given solution
A1 = Amount of particular substance in solution at initial condition
Ci = Concentration of the particular substance in the incoming solution (weight per unit vol.)
Co = Concentration of the particular substance in the outgoing solution (weight per unit vol.)
Note:
At any time (t), the value of C is

= = + ( )

Where: V is the volume of resulting mixture at any instant

Examples:
1. A tank contains 1000L of fluid and 15kg dissolved salt. Fresh water enters at 10L/min and the tank is
draining at 10L/min.

a. How much salt is in the tank at t minutes and after 20 minutes?

b. Find also the time at which the mixture in the tank contains 20 kg of salt.
c. Determine also the limiting value for the amount of salt in tank for a long time.

2. A tank contains 100 L of brine holding 60 kg of salt in solution. Brine containing 1 kg of salt per liter flows
into the tank at the rate of 2L/min and the mixture kept uniform by stirring, runs out at the rate of 3 L/min.

a. What is the initial concentration of salt in the solution in kg/liter?

b. What is the volume of the solution in the tank after 1 hour?
c. Find the amount of salt at the end of 1 hour?

3. A tank contains 200 gal of fresh water. Brine containing 2.50 lb/gal of dissolved salt runs into the tank at
the rate of 8 gal/min and the mixture kept uniform by stirring runs out at 4 gal/min.
a. Find the amount of salt when the tank contains 240 gal of brine.
b. The concentration of salt in the tank after 25 minutes amounts to how much?

4. A tank contains 400 liters of brine. Twelve (12) L of brine, each containing 2.50 kg of dissolved salt enter
the tank per minute and the mixture, kept uniform by stirring, leaves at the rate of 8 liters per minute. If the
concentration is to be 2.00 N per liter at the end of one (1) hour, how many kg of salt were originally present
in the tank?