14/15 Semester 5

Chemical Engineering Mathematics

ChE-302:

Instructor: Dr. Khuram Maqsood

Email: khuram.maqsood@gmail.com
Syllabus:
Application of the following to Chemical Engineering
problems:

a) Ordinary differential equations

b) Simultaneous differential equations
c) Partial differential equations
d) Series solution
e) Laplace transformation
Textbooks:

1. Himmelblau, D. M.; Riggs, J. B., Basic

Principles and Calculations in Chemical
Engineering. 8th Edition; Prentice Hall,
2012.
2. Jenson, V. G.; Jeffreys, G. V., Mathematical
Methods in Chemical Engineering. 2nd
Edition; Academic Press, 1977.
Additional Reference Books:

1. Loney, N. W., Applied Mathematical

Methods for Chemical Engineers. 2nd
Edition; CRC Press, 2007.
2. Rice, R. G.; Do, D. D., Applied Mathematics
and Modeling for Chemical Engineers. 2nd
Edition; John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
Course Learning Outcomes:

• CLO-1: Formulate ordinary

differential equations for unsteady
state material and energy balances of
simple chemical processes
• CLO-2: Apply Laplace transform and
series solution techniques for
solution of ordinary and partial
differential equations
Introduction
Mathematical modelling of most of the chemical processes
leads to a system of complex model equations.
1. Analytical method
 Exact solutions usually in the form of general
mathematical expressions
e3 / 29

2. Numerical method
 Approximate solutions in the form of discrete values
or numbers
Differential Equations:
A differential equation (DE) may be
defined as an equation involving one or
more derivatives of an unknown
dependent variable or several variables
with respect to one or more
independent variable or variables.
Linear DE versus Non-Linear DE
A linear differential equation is one in which
the dependent variable and its derivatives with
respect to the independent variable are of the
first degree and all multiplicative factors are
either constants or functions of the
independent variable. An example follows.
dy
 P( x) y  Q( x) y ' + 4xy = x
dx
2
d y dy
2 2  5  3 y  sin 4t
dt dt 8
Two Examples of Non-Linear Differential
Equations

dy
y2
 y  10
dt
2
 dy 
   5 y  20
 dt 

9
Ordinary DE versus Partial DE
The preceding equations have been ordinary
types since the dependent variable was a
function of only one independent variable.
An example of a partial differential equation
follows.

 y
2
 y 2
a 2 b
x 2
t
10
Realistic mathematical process models in
chemical engineering field usually consist
of
Ordinary differential equations (ODEs) coupled
with nonlinear algebraic equations
• ODEs are generally derived making mass and energy
balance
• Supporting algebraic equations usually correlate the
parameters with the process variables
Example:
Distillation column. An ODE is formed if a mass
balance is made around a tray, whereas an
algebraic equation correlates the vapor–liquid
equilibrium coefficient with the phase composition,
temperature and pressure.
• Simplest of the equations is a linear algebraic equation
• Exact solution of this linear equation is immediate and consists of a
single value or point
• Algebraic quadratic equations can also be solved exactly, if solutions
exist, leading to two solutions
• Finding exact solutions to higher-order algebraic equations is not a
feasible task and numerical methods must be employed to find
approximate solutions
• For a system having two or more coupled nonlinear algebraic
equations, numerical methods are routinely employed to find
approximate solutions
• Ordinary differential equations are in general much more difficult to
solve exactly
• Exact analytical solutions of ODES are available only for linear
differential equations
•For the case of nonlinear ODEs, explicit exact
solutions are quite impossible and numerical
methods are employed
•It is common to convert the PDE to a set of
ordinary differential equations and the
standard techniques are followed for solving
those transformed ODEs
 Ordinary Differential Equation
Differential equation
An equation relating a dependent variable to one or
more independent variables by means of its
differential coefficients with respect to the
independent variables is called a “differential
equation”.
d 3 y dy 2 Ordinary differential equation --------
3
 ( )  4 y  4e x
cos x only one independent variable involved: x
dx dx
T  2T  2T  2T Partial differential equation ---------------
C p  k ( 2  2  2 ) more than one independent variable involved: x, y, z, 
 x y z
 Ordinary Differential Equation
Differential equation
Ordinary differential equations are classified in terms
of order and degree
Order of an ordinary differential equation is the same
as the highest order derivative
The degree of a differential equation is the highest
power of the highest order differential coefficient that
the equation contains after it has been rationalized.
 Ordinary Differential Equation
Differential equation
Ordinary differential equations are classified in terms
of order and degree
3rd order O.D.E.

1st degree O.D.E.

1st order O.D.E.

2nd degree O.D.E.

Ordinary Differential Equation
Linear or non-linear

 Differential equations are said to be non-linear if

any products exist between the dependent
variable and its derivatives, or between the
derivatives themselves.

d 3 y dy 2
3
 ( )  4 y  4e x
cos x
dx dx
Product between two derivatives ---- non-linear

dy
 4 y 2  cos x
dx
Product between the dependent variable themselves ---- non-linea
 Ordinary Differential Equation
ODE in chemical engineering
Illustrative Example: A Blending Process

An unsteady-state mass balance for the blending system:

rate of accumulation   rate of   rate of 

    (2-1)
 of mass in the tank  mass in  mass out 
 Ordinary Differential Equation
ODE in chemical engineering
or d Vρ 
 w1  w2  w (2-2)
dt
where w1, w2, and w are mass flow rates.
 The unsteady-state component balance is:
d Vρx 
 w1x1  w2 x2  wx (2-3)
dt
For constant  , Eqs. 2-2 and 2-3 become:

dV
  w1  w2  w (2-12)
dt
 d Vx 
 w1x1  w2 x2  wx (2-13)
dt
 Ordinary Differential Equation
ODE in chemical engineering
Equation 2-13 can be simplified by expanding the accumulation term using the “chain
rule” for differentiation of a product:
d Vx  dx dV
  V  x (2-14)
dt dt dt
Substitution of (2-14) into (2-13) gives:

dx dV
V   x  w1x1  w2 x2  wx (2-15)
dt dt
Substitution of the mass balance in (2-12) for  dV/dt in (2-15) gives:

dx
V  x  w1  w2  w   w1x1  w2 x2  wx (2-16)
dt
 Ordinary Differential Equation
ODE in chemical engineering

After canceling common terms and rearranging (2-12) and (2-16), a more convenient
model form is obtained:

dV 1
  w1  w2  w  (2-17)
dt 
dx w1 w2
 1 
x  x   x2  x  (2-18)
dt V  V
 Ordinary Differential Equation
ODE in chemical engineering
Unsteady – State Material and Energy
Balances
• The macroscopic balance ignores all of the detail within a system and
consequently results in a balance about the entire system.
Assumption
• System is well mixed so that the output concentrations and
temperatures are equivalent to the concentrations and temperatures
inside the system.

17.1
 System
Boundry

Consumption
Transport (Sink) Transport
In Out
1 2
Generation
(Source)

• Equation 17.1 can be written in Mathematical form for a very small

time interval t
• as time increases from t to t
• the accumulation will be the mass of A in the system at time t + t
minus the mass of A in the system at time t
accumulation   A V t t
 A V t

 A  mass of component A per unit volume

V = Volume of the system
mass transport across the system boundary into two
parts, transport through defined surfaces S1 and S2 whose areas are known,
and transport across the system boundary through other (undefined) surfaces.
The net transport of A into (through S1 ) and out of (through S2 ) the
system through defined surfaces can be written as
Net flow across boundry via S1 and S2 =  AS t S   AS t S
1 2

  fluid velocity in a duct of cross section S

Si  defined cross-sectional area perpendicular to material flow
Net residual flow across boundary   A t
 A  rate of mass flow of component A through the system
boundaries other than the defined surfaces S1 and S2 .
Net generation-consumption  rA t
rA  net rate of generation-consumption of component A by
chemical reaction.

The species material balance for species A is

A V t t
  A V t   A t S   A t S   A t  rA t (17.2)
1 2

Accumulation Transport through Transport Through Generation or

defined boundries other boundries consumption
Total material balance is:
A V t t
  A V t   A t S   A t S   A t (17.3)
1 2

Accumulation Transport through Transport Through

defined boundries other boundries
By an analogous procedure the energy balance is:

 2   2 
E t t  E t   H   gh  mt   H   gh  mt
 2  S1  2  S2

Accumulation Transport Through defined boundries

 Qt + W t + B t (17.4)
Heat Work Transport through other boundries
B = rate of energy transfer accompanying 
m = rate of mass transfer through defined surfaces S1 in and S2 out,
respectively
Q = rate of heat transfer to the system
W = rate of work done on the system
 = rate of total mass flow through the system boundaries other
than through the defined surfaces S1 and S2
If each side of Equation (17.2) is divided by t, we obtain
A V  A V
t t t
  A   A  A  rA (17.5)
t S1 S2

By applying limit t  0 to each side of equation 17.5,

we get differential form
d (  AV )
 (  A S )   A  rA (17.6)
dt
Similarly from equation 17.3 and 17.4
d ( V )
 (  S )   (17.7)
dt
d (E)  2  
 Q  W  B    H   gh  m  (17.8)
dt  2  
By Integration

 
t2


E t2  Et1   Q  B  W    H  K  P m  dt (17.9) 
t1
Example 17.1 Unsteady-State Material
Balance without Generation
A tank holds 100 gal of a water-salt solution in
which 4.0 lb of salt are dissolved. Water runs
into the tank at the rate of 5 gal/min and salt
solution overflows at the same rate. If the
mixing in the tank is adequate to keep the
concentration of salt in the tank uniform at all
times, how much salt is in the tank at the end
of 50 min? Assume that the density of the salt
solution is essentially the same as that of
water.
This is the initial condition:
at t = 0 x = 4.0 lb
assumption of uniform concentration of salt in the tank, the concentration of salt
leaving the tank is the same as that in the tank, or x lb/100 gal of solution.
Example 17.2 Unsteady-State Material
Balance without Generation
A square tank 4 m on a side and 10 m
high is filled to the brim with water. Find
the time required for it to empty through
a hole in the bottom 5 cm2 in area.
Sol:

Time will be the independent variable

The height, h of the water in the tank, as
the dependent variable
at t = 0 h = 10 m
At time t, the height of the water in the tank drops h. The mass of water
leaving the tank is in the form of a cylinder 5 cm 2 in area
5 cm 2  1 m   *m  kg t s
2

   5  10  t kg
4 *

 100 cm  s m
3

  density of water
 *  average velocity of the water leaving the tank
The depletion of water inside the tank in terms of variable h
16 m 2  kg h m 16 m 2  kg h m
3
 3
 16  h kg
m t t m t
An overall material balance is
Accumulation = In - out
16 h = 0 - 5  10-4   * t (a)
h 5  10-4 *

t 16
Taking the limit as h and t approch zero, we get the differential form
dh 5  10-4 *
 (b)
dt 16
This is an equation with one independent variable, t, and two dependent
variables, h and  * . We must find another equation to eliminate either h
or  * if we want to obtain a solution.
With W = 0 and E = 0 the steady-state mechanical energy
balances reduce to
 (v* ) 2 
  gh   0
 2 
We have assumed that the atmospheric pressure is the same at section
1  the water surface  and section 2  the hole  for the system consisting of
the water in the tank. Equation (c) can be rearranged to

(2* ) 2  (1* ) 2
 g (h2  h1 )  0 (d)
2
2*  exit velocity through the 5 cm 2 hole at boundary 2
1*  velocity of water in the tank at boundary 1
If v1*  0, a reasonable assumption for the water in the large tank
at any time, at least compared to v*2
(v*2 ) 2  2 g (0  h1 )  2 gh
v*2  2 gh (e)
Because the exit-stream flow is not frictionless and because of turbulence
and orifice effects in the exit hole, we must correct the value of  given by
Equation (e) for frictionless flow by an empirical
adjustment factor as follows:
v*2  c 2 gh (f)
where c is an orifice correction that we could find (from a text
discussing fluid dynamics) with a value of 0.62 for this case. Thus
v*2  0.62 2(9.8)h  2.74 h m / s
Let us substitute this relation into Equation (b) in place of v*
dh (5.0 104 )(2.74)(h)1/2
 (g)
dt 16
Equation (g) can be integrated between
h = 10 m at t = 0
h = 0 m at t =  , the unknown time
0 
dh
-1.17 10  1/2   dt
4

10
h 0
0
dh 10
  1.17 10  1/2  1.17 10  2 h   7.38 104 s
4 4

10
h 0
Now suppose that in addition to the loss of fluid through the hole in
the bottom of the tank additional fluid is poured continuously into the
top of the tank at varying rates. Numerical integration of the resulting
differential equations yields a varying height of fluid as illustrated in
Figure E17.2c.
Example 17.3. Material Balance in
Batch Distillation
A small still is separating propane and butane at 135°C and
initially contains 10 kg mol of a mixture whose composition is
x = 0.30 (x = mole fraction butane). Additional mixture (xF =
0.30) is fed at the rate of 5 kg mol/hr. If the total volume of
the liquid in the still is constant, and the concentration of the
vapor from the still (xD) is related to xS as follows:
xS
xD  (a)
1  xS
how long will it take for the value of xS to change from 0.3 to
0.4? What is the steady-state (“equilibrium”) value of xS in the
still (i.e., when xS becomes constant)? See Figure E17.3.
 Sol:
Since butane and propane form ideal solutions, we do not have
to worry about volume changes on mixing or separation. Only
the material balance is needed to answer the questions posed.
If t is the independent variable and xS is the dependent variable,
Butane balance (C4): The input to the still is:
5 mol feed 0.30 mol C4
hr mol feed
The output from the still is equal to the amount condensed:
5 mol condensed xD mol C4
hr mol condensed
10dxS
The accululation is
dt
Accumulation = in - out
10dxS
= 1.50 - 5x D
dt
dxS
= 0.15 - 0.5x D (b)
dt
dxS  xS 
= 0.15 - 0.5   (c)
dt  1  xS 
Integration of Equations(c) between the following limit
at t = 0 x S = 0.30
t= x S = 0.40
0.40 
dxS
0.30 0.15  0.5 xS / (1  xS )  0 dt  
0.40`
0.40
(1  xS )dxS  xS 1 
0.30 0.15  0.35xS     0.35  (0.35)2 ln(0.15  0.35xS ) 
0.30

  5.85 hr
The steady-state value of x S is established at infinite time or,
alternatively, when the accumulation is zero. At that time,
0.5 xS
0.15 = or x S  0.428
1  xS
The value of x S could never be any greater than
0.428 for the given conditions
Problem 17.1
A tank containing 100 kg of a 60% brine (60%
salt) is filled with a 10% salt solution at the
rate of 10 kg/min. Solution is removed from
the tank at the rate of 15 kg/min. Assuming
complete mixing, find the kilograms of salt in
the tank after 10 min.

10 kg soln / min 15 kg soln / min

 Sol 17.1:
The amount of solution decreases at a rate of 15-10 = 5 kg/min
By an overall balance, the amount of solution after t min is
(100  5t )kg
Let x = kg of salt per kilogram of solution in the tank after t min
x(0) = 0.60
Then dx/dt = rate of change of concentration in the tank. Salt balance at any time t
Accumulation = Input - Output
dx
(100-5t)  10(0.1)  15 x
dt
separating variables
dx dt

1  15 x 100  5t
Integrating from 0 to 10 min
x 10
dx dt
0.6 1  15 x 0 100  5t


(1  15 x) (100  50)
ln  ln
(1  9) 100
x  0.1333
kg of solution after 10 min = 100 - 50 = 50 g
kg of salt in the tank = (0.1333)(50) = 6.67 kg
Problem 17.2

A defective tank of 1500 ft3 volume containing

100% propane gas (at 1 atm) is to be flushed
with air (at 1 atm) until the propane
concentration reduces to less than 1%. At that
concentration of propane the defect can be
repaired by welding. If the flow rate of air into
the tank is 30 ft3/min, for how many minutes
must the tank be flushed out? Assume that
the flushing operation is conducted so that
the gas in the tank is well mixed.
Assumptions:
1) Ideal gas law applies
2) Rate of inflow = Rate of outflow
Popane Balance: Accumulation = Input - output
 xft 3 Propane xft 3 Propane 
 3  3  (1500 ft 3
)
 ft of Mixture t t ft of Mixture t 
0 ft 3 Propane 30 ft 3 t min xft 3 Propane 30 ft 3 t min
 3  3
ft mixture min ft mixture min
dx dx
1500  0  30 x  1500  30dt
dt x
0.01 t
dx
1500   30 dt  1500 ln x 1  30t 0
0.01 t

1
x 0

1500(4.605  0)  30t
t  230.25 min
Problem 17.3
A 2% uranium oxide slurry (2 lb UO2/100 lb H2O)
flows into a 100 gal tank at the rate of 2 gal/min.
The tank initially contains 500 lb of H2O and no UO2.
The slurry is well mixed and flows out at the same
rate at which it enters. Find the concentration of
slurry in the tank at the end of 1 hr.

2 gal/ min 0 UO2

2 gal / min
100 gal H2O

2 lb UO2 / 100 lb H2O

 Sol:
Assumptions
1) Ignore volume changes
2) density remains constant
t = time as independant variable, x = lb UO 2 /lb of H 2 O in tank
Material Balance
Accumulation = Input - Output
x lb UO 2 500 lb H 2O x lb UO 2 500 lb H 2O

lb H 2O t t
lb H 2O t

2 gal 8.33 lb H 2O 2 lb UO 2 t min 2 gal 8.33 lb H 2O x lb UO 2 t min

 
min gal H 2O 100 lb H 2O min gal H 2O
x 60
dx (2)(8.33)
0 0.02  x  500 0 dt  x  0.0173
Problem 17.4
The catalyst in a fluidized-bed reactor of 200
m3 volume is to be regenerated by contact
with a hydrogen stream. Before the hydrogen
can be introduced in the reactor, the O2
content of the air in the reactor must be
reduced to 0.1%. If pure N2 can be fed into the
reactor at the rate of 20 m3/min, for how long
should the reactor be purged with N2? Assure
that the catalyst solids occupy 6% of the
reactor volume and that the gases are well
mixed.
Sol:
Assumptions
1) Ideal gas law applies
2) Inflow = outflow
O 2 Balance
Accumulation = Input - Output
 x m3 O 2 x m3 O 2   94 m3 free vol 200 m3 
 3  3  3 
 m mixture t t m mixture t   100 m reactor vol 
0 m3 O 2 20 m3 t min x m3 O 2 20 m3 t min
 3  3
m mixture min m mixture min
0.001 t
dx
188   20  dt  t  50.3 min
0.210
x 0
Problem 17.5
An advertising firm wants to get a special inflated sign out of a
warehouse. The sign is 20 ft in diameter and is filled with H2 at
15 psig. Unfortunately, the door frame to the warehouse
permits only 19 ft to pass. The maximum rate of H2 that can
be safely vented from the balloon is 5 ft3/min (measured at
room conditions). How long will it take to get the sign small
enough to just pass through the door?
a) First assume that the pressure inside the balloon is
constant so that the flow rate is constant.
b) Then assume the amount of H2 escaping is proportional to
the volume of the balloon and initially is 5 ft3/min.
c) Could a solution to this problem be obtained if the
amount of escaping H2 were proportional to the pressure
difference inside and outside the balloon?
Sol:
V1  Initial Volume
= (4/3)( )(10)3 = 4190 ft 3
V2  Initial Volume
= (4/3)( )(9.5)3 = 3590 ft 3
(a) At constant pressure
dV
5
dt
V2 t

 dV  5 dt  (4150  3590)  5t
V1 0
t  112 min
b) Assuming the rate of escaping is proportional to the volume
and initially at 5(ft)3 /min
V2 t
dV 5
V V  4190 0 dt
1

4190  V2  4190
t ln    858ln  131 min
5  V1  3590
c) Not without any piece of information as the mass balance contains two
unknown, such as p and V
Problem 17.6
A plant at Canso, Nova Scotia, makes fish-protein
concentrate (FPC). It takes 6.6 kg of whole fish to
make 1 kg of FPC, and therein is the problem—to
make money, the plant must operate most of the
year. One of the operating problems is the drying of
the FPC. It dries in the fluidized dryer at a rate
approximately proportional to its moisture content. If
a given batch of FPC loses one-half of its initial
moisture in the first 15 min, how long will it take to
remove 90% of the water in the batch of FPC?
 w t
dw
Sol: w w  k 0 dt
0

ln w w  k t 0
W t
o

Let the moisture content be w ln w  kt

w0
dw
 kw ln 0.5
dt At t = 15, w = w 0 / 2 : k   0.0463
15
w0 /2 15
dw  w

w0
w
 k  dt
0
ln    0.0463t
 w0 
When w = 0.1 w 0
kt 0
wo /2 15
ln w w
o 0.1w0
ln
w0
t  49.1 min
0.0463
Problem 17.7
Water flows from a conical tank at the rate of 0.020(2 + h2)
m3/min, as shown in Figure P17.7. If the tank is initially full,
how long will it take for 75% of the water to flow out of the
tank? What is the flow rate at that time?
 Sol:
a) Ignore friction, non-ideality at the discharge and
the orifice coefficient and use instead
0.02 (2+h 2 )m3 / min
1 2
Vol cone =  r h
3
r 3 3 1 9
 ,r  h V   h3
h 5 5 3 25
dV 9 2 dh 2 dh
 h  1.13h m3 / min
dt 25 dt dt
 0.020(2  h 2 )
h2 t
56.5h 2 dh
h 2  h2  0 dt  t
1

h2
113 1 h 
t  56.5h h 
h2
tan 
1
 2 2  h1
h1  5m, h2  ( 3 0.25)h1  3.15m
t  56.6(3.15  5)  79.9(tan 1 2.227  tan 1 3.336)
t  567.3min
b) The rate of discharge at that time is
dV
 0.02(2  h 2 )
dt
 0.02(2  (3.15) 2 )  0.24m3 / min
Problem 17.8
A sewage disposal plant has a big concrete holding
tank of 100,000 gal capacity. It is three-fourths full of
liquid to start with and contains 60,000 Ib of organic
material in suspension. Water runs into the holding
tank at the rate of 20,000 gal/hr and the solution
leaves at the rate of 15,000 gal/hr. How much organic
material is in the tank at the end of 3 hr?
Initially 75,000
20,000 gph gal
15,000 gph
0 lb organic 60,000 lb
organic X lb organic/gal
total
 1) Overall Balance
Sol: Let y = total gal of mixture in the tank at time t (in hours)
dy
 20000  15000  5000
dx
y t


75000
dy  5000  dt
0

y  5000(15  t )
2)
Organic Material Balance
lb organic
Let x = in the tank at time t
gal of mix
Initially, x  60000 / 75000  0.8
total amount of organic in the tank at time t is (yx) lbs
The rate of accumulation will be d(yx)/dt, lb/hr
Rate of accumulation = Rate in - Rate out
d ( yx)
 0  15000 x
dt
dx dy
d x  15000
dt dt
dx 20000 x

dt 5000(15  t )
x 3
dx 4dt x 15
0.8 x   0 15  t  ln 0.8  4 ln 18
x  0.396
The total wt of organic material in the tank after 3 hr is:
yx   75000  (5000)(3)  (0.396)  34, 640lb
Alternative Solution:
If x = total lb of organic in the tank at any time t,
then the concentration of organic is x/y
The balance becomes:
dx 15000 gal x lb

dt hr y gal
x 3
dx 15000 dt

60000
x
 
0
5000(15  t )
x 18
ln  3ln
60000 15
x  34640 lb organic
Problem 17.9
Suppose that in problem 17.8 the bottom of the tank is
covered with sludge (precipitated organic material) and that
the stirring of the tank causes the sludge to go into
suspension at a rate proportional to the difference between
the concentration of sludge in the tank at any time and 10 Ib
of sludge/gal. If no organic material were present, the sludge
would go into suspension at the rate of 0.05 Ib/(min) (gal
solution) when 75,000 gal of solution are in the tank. How
much organic material is in the tank at the end of 3 hr?

Initially 75,000
20,000 gph gal 15,000 gph
60,000 lb
organic
 Suspension rate = k(10 - x) lb/hr

Sol: 1) Overall balance: Assuming the sludge does not effect the volume
of the mixture in the tank, the overall balance will be the same as
that in the problem 17.8, i.e. y = 5000 (15+t) gal
2) Organic Balance
Let x = lb of organic in suspension per gal of total in the tank
at time t in hours
z = lb of sludge going into suspension at time t
Rate of sludge going into suspension
dx
 k (10  x)
dt
x  0, y  75, 000 gal
dz 0.05lb 75000 60 min
  k (10) lb/gal
dt (min)( gal ) hr
(0.05)(75, 000)(60)
k=  22,500 gal/hr
10
 d ( yx)
Rate of accumulation of organic =
dt
Rate of accumulation = Rate in - Rate out
d ( yx)
  22500(10  x)   15000 x
dt
dx dy
 y x
dt dt
dx 45  8.5 x

dt 15  t
x t
dx 8.5dt
0.8 5.3  x 0 15  t


5.3  x 18
 ln  8.5ln
5.3  0.8 15
x  4.345 lb/gal
The total weight of the organic in the tank after 3 hrs is
=(90000)(4.345)
=391050 lbs
Problem 17.10
In a chemical reaction the products X and Y are
formed according to the equation

C  x y
The rate at which each of these products is being
formed is proportional to the amount of C present.
Initially: C = I, X = 0, Y = O. Find the time for the
amount of X to equal the amount of C.
 Let C, x, y = the number of moles of X, x, y respectively
Sol: 1) C balance: C0 = 1, initial moles of C
C t
dc dC
 kC     k  dt
dt C0
C 0

C
ln  kt  C  C0 e  kt  e  kt
C0
2) x balance
dx
 kC  ke  kt
dt
x t

  dt
 kt
dx  ke
0 0

x  1  e  kt or 2e  kt  1
1 ln 2
ln  kt  t 
2 k