Estimating Kinetic Parameters from a Batch Reactor Experiment

theoretical

reaction order n

1.5

rate constant k

1

seed

1

noise amplitude

0.05

Consider an irreversible homogeneous liquid-phase reaction

nAB

taking place in a batch reactor. Assume that the experimental data (i.e. the concentration of species

A

versus time data indicated by the blue dots in the figure) comes from, for example, the on-line measurement of electrical conductivity of the mixture in the reactor. The governing equation of the batch reactor is given by

dc

dt

=-k

n

c

with

c(t=0)=1

.

This Demonstration uses the experimentally obtained data in order to estimate the theoretical reaction order

n

and rate constant

k

(shown in the figure in red and blue, respectively). You can vary the theoretical values of

n

and

k

using the sliders. You can also vary the experimental data in order to mimic different experimental results obtained by various set-ups using the "seed" and "noise amplitude" sliders.