Different catalysts based on Y-zeolite, ZSM-5, and amorphous kaolin were prepared and characterized. The catalytic cracking of 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene (1,3,5-TIPB), 1,4-diisopropylbenzene (1,4-DIPB), and n-dodecane were used to investigate the effect of the catalyst nature on the catalytic performance. Cracking the largest molecule (1,3,5-TIPB) using the kaolin, with largest pore structure, was found to be most efficient, although it has lowest acidity. On the contrary, cracking of n-dodecane was found to be very efficient using a catalyst based on ZSM-5 zeolite. Koalin catalyst produces more cumene when used for cracking 1,4-DIPB and 1,3,5-TIPB than the zeolite catalyst. Benzene selectivity was highest for the ZSM-5 catalyst and high reaction temperature. Generally, cracking of 1,3,5-TIPB produces more coke, followed by 1,4-DIPB, and least is n-dodecane. Amorphous kaolin was found to produce less coke than both USY and ZSM-5 zeolites; however, kaolin was found completely inactive in cracking n-dodecane.

In the present paper, we apply a new approach, based on mainly two built‐in functions of the computer algebra Mathematica©, in order to estimate the parameters of several models that describe various transient (i.e., time‐dependent) chemical engineering processes. These models usually consist of either a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) or partial differential equations (PDEs). Basing on experimental data, it is possible to obtain, both readily and accurately, estimates of the values of the parameters involved in such models by adopting the proposed methodology. We illustrate the approach with three case studies, all related to chemical reactors. Actual experimental data, collected by senior students at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals during their core laboratory course (i.e., Chemical Engineering Lab II or CHE 409) are used in the first two case studies: (1) response to a tracer input of three continuous stirred‐tank reactors in series and (2) saponification reaction of ethyl acetate in a batch reactor. In the first case study, the residence time distribution and the mean residence time in each reactor are deduced from the set of gathered data. Reaction order and rate constant are estimated from the experimental findings in the second case study. A more advanced situation, involving the solution of the advection–diffusion equation applied to a tubular micro‐reactor, is considered in the third case study. Data were collected, as part of a Ph.D. research of S. Mejri, using an experimental set‐up at Energy Intensified Reactor Engineering Lab at the University of Warwick, U.K. Here, we obtained an estimate of the relevant dimensionless number namely, the Péclet number.

No abstract

No abstract