Question

While developing a catalytic process to make ethylene glycol from synthesis gas $(\mathrm{CO}+H_2)$, a chemical engineer finds the rate is fourth-order in gas pressure. The uncertainty in the pressure reading is 5%. When the catalyst is modified, the rate increases by 10%. If you were the company patent attorney, would you file for a patent on this catalyst modification? Explain.

Short answer

This gives an error equal to 22%. This means that there is an uncertaintyof 22% of in the rate measurement. Hence, a 10% change in the rate is not significant to consider. Thus, there is no need to file for a patent.

Step-by-step solution

What is meant by the catalytic process?

Catalysisis described as the process of modifying chemical reaction rates by adding a material (the catalyst) that does not change throughout the chemical reaction.

Catalysts are often utilized to allow chemical reactions to take place at temperatures and pressures low enough for companies to utilize low-cost equipment or to ensure that the rate of production of the desired product exceeds the rate of creation of undesired by-products.

Is there any need to file for a patent?

Express the rate as fourth-order in gas pressure, p:

$\mathrm{Rate}={\left[\mathrm{P}\right]}^4$

Calculate the relative response rate, taking into account a 5% inaccuracy in the pressure reading:

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Relative}\mathrm{reaction}\mathrm{rate}={\left[\mathrm{P}\left(1+5\%\right)\right]}^4 \\ ={\left[105\right]}^4{\left[\mathrm{P}\right]}^4 \\ =1.22{\left[\mathrm{P}\right]}^4 \\ =\left(1+22\%\right){\left[\mathrm{P}\right]}^4 \end{gathered}$$

This gives an error equal to 22%. This means that there is an uncertaintyof 22% of in the rate measurement. Hence, a 10% change in the rate is not significant to consider. Thus, there is no need to file for a patent.