Materials and apparatus

0.097 M NaOH solution

NaOH pellets

0.1 M ethyl acetate

0.1 M HCl

Volumetric Pipette [10 mL]

Erlenmeyer flasks [250 mL]

Stirring Sticks

Stopwatch

Burettes [Acid and Base]

Graduated cylinders [100 mL]

Equipment

1. Reactor Heater

2. Water Bath

3. Coiled Reaction Tubing

4. Agitator Motor

5. Reactant Flowmeters

6. Switch Box

7. Steel Tube Support

8. Collecting Tank

Equipment Specifications:

Volume: 400 mL Height: 1.075 m Width: 1 m Depth: 0.66 m

Procedure

Preparation of Reactor Feed

Prior to the experiment, 30 liters of 0.1 M NaOH and 0.1M Ethyl Acetate were prepared

in two containers. After thorough mixing, the contents were poured into the corresponding

storage tanks in the reactor.

Equipment Start-up

The main water supply valve of the reactor was fully opened and the water bath drain

valve was closed. The two power supply circuit breakers were then switched on and the

temperature setting in the control console was set to zero. Then, the main power switch was

switched on. The stirrer was then turned on once the water in the reactor starts to overflow and

the temperature setting was increased to 30. The sample beaker was removed and the two feed

pump switches were switched on. The trapped air in the reactor was purged by increasing the

flowmeter valve setting.

Experiment Proper

The flow rates of the reactants were set to a reading where there is equal molar flowrates

entering the reactor. The temperature setting in the console was set to a setting of 30°C. Steady-

state was allowed to reach after two reactor volumes of effluent have accumulated. Once steady-

state has been attained, effluent sampling was done and the temperature of the reaction was

recorded. Two 10 ml effluent samples were collected in the sampling point of the products using

a volumetric pipette. Immediately after the pipetting, 10ml 0.1M HCl was poured into the

sample. After which, two drops of phenolphthalein indicator were added and the sample was

titrated with 0.1 M NaOH. The preceding procedures were then repeated for three different flow

rate settings, each at three different temperature settings.

Equipment Shutdown

After all the runs have been performed, the feed pumps and stirrer were switched off. The

storage tanks were drained and refilled with distilled water. The flow meters were switched on

and adjusted to the highest setting. After which, the feed pumps were switched off and the

storage tanks and water bath were drained. The power supply and two circuit breakers were

switched off, and then the main water supply line was closed and the equipment inspected.