Abstract
In a system that is close to chemical equilibrium, the relaxation of each elementary step toward equilibrium obeys the linear laws of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. For a series reaction in which the concentration of the intermediate species are low or do not change with time, the relaxation can be characterized by one time constant, which can be associated with an overall equilibrium exchange rate and the equilibrium exchange rates of the individual steps is analogous to that between the overall conductance and the individual conductances of a network of electrical resistors in series. A numerical example is presented to show the range of validity of this relationship.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 725-732 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | AICHE Journal |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 1984 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering(all)
- Mechanical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Polymers and Plastics