Results

The readings for the fixed bed catalytic reactor (Amberlite IR-
Table 1 20, Particle size <425 μm )
αin= 1.9 temperature = 65oC

Feed pump Flow rate (mL/s) 1/F (s/mL) αout αout

1 0.045 22.222 0.1 0.1

2 0.089 11.236 0.8 0.8

3 0.131 7.634 1.2 1.2

4 0.176 5.682 1.4 1.4

5 0.232 4.310 1.6 1.6

The readings for the fixed bed catalytic reactor (Amberlite IR-
Table 2 20, Particle size 500- 700 μm )
αin= 2.0 temperature = 65oC

Feed pump Flow rate (mL/s) 1/F (s/mL) αout αout

1 0.0442 22.624 0.9 0.9

2 0.0911 10.977 1.8 1.8

3 0.1417 7.057 1.9 1.9

4 0.1923 5.200 1.9 1.9

5 0.2325 4.301 1.9 1.9

The readings for the fixed bed catalytic reactor (Amberlite IR-
Table 3 20, Particle size > 710 μm )
αin= 2.0 temperature = 65oC

Feed pump Flow rate (mL/s) 1/F (s/mL) αout αout

1 0.0394 25.381 0.6 0.6

2 0.0926 10.799 1 1

3 0.1451 6.892 1.3 1.3

4 0.1903 5.255 1.8 1.8

5 0.2399 4.168 1.9 1.9

Calculations
1. Formalise your plot of αout versus 1/F. Have you found a well defined
asymptote allowing you to obtain α?
Figure 1: Graph of αout versus 1/F the fixed bed catalytic reactor ( Amberlite
IR-20, Particle size < 425 μm )

Amberlite IR-20, Particle size <425 μm

1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
αout

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
-0.2
1/F (s/mL)

From this graph, the asymptotic value for α is approximated to be 0.0.

Figure 2: Graph of αout versus 1/F the fixed bed catalytic reactor ( Amberlite
IR-20, Particle size 500 - 710 μm )

Amberlite IR-20, Particle size 500- 700 μm

2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
αout

1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
1/F (s/mL)

From this graph, the asymptotic value for α is approximated to be 0.8.

Figure 3: Graph of αout versus 1/F the fixed bed catalytic reactor ( Amberlite
IR-20, Particle size > 710 μm )

Amberlite IR-20, Particle size > 710 μm

2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
αout

1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
1/F (s/mL)

From this graph, the asymptotic value for α is approximated to be 0.4.

From the graphs, it is obvious that the asymptotes are not very well defined.
Extrapolating of values is necessary to estimate the value that corresponds to α .
2. Using the from 1 and for each F calculate:

[(αout- α)/( αin- α)]

where αout is the optical rotation associated with F.
 3.Plot
ln[(αout- α)/( αin- α)]

Have you produced a straight line? From the gradient determine k.

Table 7: Data of 1/F and  ln[(αout- α)/( αin- α)] for the fixed bed catalytic reactor
( Amberlite IR-20, Particle size <425 μm )