Calculate Process for Drug Production: MW 192, 10.3 L/min, 41.2% Drug, SG 1.025

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating specific parameters related to drug production, including the concentration of a drug in Kg/L and the flow rate in Kg-mol/min. Participants are particularly focused on clarifying whether the given concentration of 41.2% refers to weight or volume, and the implications of this for the calculations involved.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the concentration of 41.2% is likely by weight, noting that high molecular weight drugs may not dissolve well in significant volumes.
  • Others argue that unless specified, concentrations for drugs are typically assumed to be by weight, particularly if the pure form is not a liquid at room temperature.
  • A participant mentions consulting a professor who confirmed that mass percentage should be assumed unless stated otherwise.
  • There is a suggestion that the concentration could be interpreted in multiple ways, indicating that calculations could be approached from both mass and volume perspectives.
  • One participant questions the relevance of external links to chemical calculators in relation to the original post, suggesting a focus on the core question.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the concentration is likely by weight, but there is no consensus on the interpretation of the concentration without explicit clarification. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact nature of the concentration and its implications for calculations.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the ambiguity in specifying concentration types and the potential impact on calculations. There is an acknowledgment that assumptions may vary based on context and conventions in engineering.

siddharth
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The question is
In the production of a drug having a molecular weight 192, the exit stream from the reactor flows at the rate of 10.3 L/min. The drug concentration is 41.2% (in water) and the specific gravity of the solution is 1.025. Calculate (i) The concentration of the drug in Kg/L in the exit stream
(ii) Flow rate in Kg-mol/min.

The question I have is

When the concentration of the drug is given as 41.2%, is it by mass or by volume? Is there any convention which is followed by engineers in this context? I ask this because in many similar problems, I have the same doubt.
 
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it's probably by weight percent, I'm not sure how well a molecule with such a high molecular weight would dissolve when it consists of almost 50% of the total volume.
 
When it is not specified to be by weight or volume (they really should specify this), you can usually assume they mean by weight when referring to a drug unless you have some reason to believe the pure form is a liquid at room temperature.
 
I asked my prof and he also said that unless it is specifed otherwise, I should take it as mass percentage.

Thanks for the help all.
 
w/w probably. Take a look at concentration lectures.


Borek
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what does this have to do with anything in reference to the original post?
 
siddharth said:
The question is
In the production of a drug having a molecular weight 192, the exit stream from the reactor flows at the rate of 10.3 L/min. The drug concentration is 41.2% (in water) and the specific gravity of the solution is 1.025. Calculate (i) The concentration of the drug in Kg/L in the exit stream
(ii) Flow rate in Kg-mol/min.

The question I have is

When the concentration of the drug is given as 41.2%, is it by mass or by volume? Is there any convention which is followed by engineers in this context? I ask this because in many similar problems, I have the same doubt.

its solution is not too much difficult b/c you should solve in number of ways either my mass or by volume calculation
 

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