Question

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) is produced in a long tubular reactor under harsh conditions (T = 200 �C and 1800 bar). Ethylene is pressurized, mixed with catalyst, and pumped into the reactor where (LDPE) is produced. The reactor itself is 0.5 m in diameter and 1800 m in length.

a)What phase is the ethylene? How can you tell?

Answer 1

The boiling point of ethylene is 197 ^oC here the pressure will be 1 atm. But the reactor conditions are 200 ^oC which means ethylen will be in gas phase, but the pressure maintained here is 1800 bar means very high pressure. we know that when a gas is maintained at high pressures it will turn to liquids . So, though the temperature helps the ethylene to be in gas phase, the pressure will effect more and the final phase of the ethylen will be in Liquid