Thursday 16 May 2013

3.9 describe the manufacture of ethanol by passing ethene and steam over a phosphoric acid catalyst at a temperature of about 300°C and a pressure of about 60–70 atm

C2H4 (ethene) + H2O (steam) > C2H5OH (ethanol)

This reaction takes place at a high pressure (60-70 atm) and a high temperature (300) to make the reaction happen very quickly. Phosphoric acid also speeds up the reaction as it is a catalyst.

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