Question

An isothermal reversible reaction (A ↔ B) is carried out in an aqueous solution. The reaction is first-order in both directions. The forward rate constant is 1 h–1 and the equilibrium constant is 1. The feed to the plant contains 100 kg-mol/m3 of A and enters at the rate of 120 m3/h. The reactor is a stirred tank of volume 180 m3. The exit stream then goes to a separator, where the concentration of A (CA) is doubled and 30 m3/h is sent back to the CSTR in a continuous operation.
a. Find the conversion.
b. Compare this conversion with what you will get if there is no recycle.