How can ethene be converted into ethanol?
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Jackson Hayes
Works at Facebook, Lives in Menlo Park. Graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Computer Science.
Hello, I'm a chemical engineer with a strong background in organic chemistry and chemical processes. I'm here to provide you with a detailed explanation of how ethene can be converted into ethanol, a process that is both interesting and important in the field of chemical engineering.
Ethene, also known as ethylene, is an unsaturated hydrocarbon with a double bond between its two carbon atoms. The conversion of ethene into ethanol is a process that involves the addition of a hydrogen atom to each carbon atom in the double bond, effectively "saturating" the molecule and forming ethanol. This type of reaction is known as a hydrogenation reaction.
The process of converting ethene into ethanol can be broken down into several steps:
1. Preparation of Ethene: The first step is to ensure that we have a pure source of ethene. Ethene is typically produced through the cracking of crude oil fractions, which involves heating the hydrocarbons to very high temperatures so that they break down into simpler molecules, including ethene.
2. Introduction of Hydrogen: Once we have ethene, the next step is to introduce hydrogen gas into the reaction mixture. Hydrogen is necessary for the hydrogenation process, as it will be added across the double bond of the ethene molecule.
3. Use of a Catalyst: To facilitate the reaction and ensure that it proceeds at a reasonable rate, a catalyst is used. In the case of converting ethene to ethanol, a common catalyst is phosphoric acid supported on a solid material like silica or alumina. This catalyst helps to lower the activation energy of the reaction, making it proceed more quickly.
4. Reaction Conditions: The reaction is typically carried out under high pressure and at an elevated temperature. The high pressure helps to increase the concentration of reactants, which in turn increases the rate of reaction. The temperature must be carefully controlled to ensure that the reaction proceeds efficiently without causing unwanted side reactions.
5. Hydrogenation Reaction: With the ethene, hydrogen, and catalyst in place, the hydrogenation reaction can occur. The double bond in the ethene molecule is broken, and hydrogen atoms are added to each carbon atom, resulting in the formation of ethanol.
6. Separation and Purification: After the reaction is complete, the product mixture will contain ethanol along with unreacted ethene and hydrogen. It is important to separate and purify the ethanol from the other components. This can be done through various methods such as distillation, where ethanol is separated based on its boiling point.
7.
Continuous Process: The process described can be set up as a continuous process, where ethene and steam (which provides the hydrogen necessary for the reaction) are fed into one end of the reaction vessel, and ethanol is continuously produced and removed from the other end.
It's important to note that while the process described is a simplified version of the actual industrial processes, it captures the essence of how ethene can be converted into ethanol. The actual process may involve additional steps and considerations, such as the recovery and recycling of unreacted ethene and hydrogen, as well as the treatment of any byproducts.
Now, let's move on to the translation of the explanation into Chinese.
Ethene, also known as ethylene, is an unsaturated hydrocarbon with a double bond between its two carbon atoms. The conversion of ethene into ethanol is a process that involves the addition of a hydrogen atom to each carbon atom in the double bond, effectively "saturating" the molecule and forming ethanol. This type of reaction is known as a hydrogenation reaction.
The process of converting ethene into ethanol can be broken down into several steps:
1. Preparation of Ethene: The first step is to ensure that we have a pure source of ethene. Ethene is typically produced through the cracking of crude oil fractions, which involves heating the hydrocarbons to very high temperatures so that they break down into simpler molecules, including ethene.
2. Introduction of Hydrogen: Once we have ethene, the next step is to introduce hydrogen gas into the reaction mixture. Hydrogen is necessary for the hydrogenation process, as it will be added across the double bond of the ethene molecule.
3. Use of a Catalyst: To facilitate the reaction and ensure that it proceeds at a reasonable rate, a catalyst is used. In the case of converting ethene to ethanol, a common catalyst is phosphoric acid supported on a solid material like silica or alumina. This catalyst helps to lower the activation energy of the reaction, making it proceed more quickly.
4. Reaction Conditions: The reaction is typically carried out under high pressure and at an elevated temperature. The high pressure helps to increase the concentration of reactants, which in turn increases the rate of reaction. The temperature must be carefully controlled to ensure that the reaction proceeds efficiently without causing unwanted side reactions.
5. Hydrogenation Reaction: With the ethene, hydrogen, and catalyst in place, the hydrogenation reaction can occur. The double bond in the ethene molecule is broken, and hydrogen atoms are added to each carbon atom, resulting in the formation of ethanol.
6. Separation and Purification: After the reaction is complete, the product mixture will contain ethanol along with unreacted ethene and hydrogen. It is important to separate and purify the ethanol from the other components. This can be done through various methods such as distillation, where ethanol is separated based on its boiling point.
7.
Continuous Process: The process described can be set up as a continuous process, where ethene and steam (which provides the hydrogen necessary for the reaction) are fed into one end of the reaction vessel, and ethanol is continuously produced and removed from the other end.
It's important to note that while the process described is a simplified version of the actual industrial processes, it captures the essence of how ethene can be converted into ethanol. The actual process may involve additional steps and considerations, such as the recovery and recycling of unreacted ethene and hydrogen, as well as the treatment of any byproducts.
Now, let's move on to the translation of the explanation into Chinese.
2024-05-19 10:31:17
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Studied at the University of British Columbia, Lives in Vancouver, Canada.
Ethanol can be made by reacting ethene (from cracking crude oil fractions) with steam. A catalyst of phosphoric acid is used to ensure a fast reaction. Notice that ethanol is the only product. The process is continuous -C as long as ethene and steam are fed into one end of the reaction vessel, ethanol will be produced.
2023-06-13 23:10:12
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Julian Patel
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
Ethanol can be made by reacting ethene (from cracking crude oil fractions) with steam. A catalyst of phosphoric acid is used to ensure a fast reaction. Notice that ethanol is the only product. The process is continuous -C as long as ethene and steam are fed into one end of the reaction vessel, ethanol will be produced.