This report presents a cost analysis of Acetone production from propylene The process examined is a typical hydration/dehydrogenation process. In this process, propylene is directly hydrated in a catalytic reactor, producing isopropanol. Then, isopropanol is dehydrogenated in the vapor phase in a fixed bed catalyst reactor to produce acetone. This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): Keywords: Propanone, Fixed-Bed Reactor, Catalytic Reactor, Isopropyl Alcohol, 2-Propanol
This report presents a cost analysis of Isopropanol production from refinery grade (RG) propylene. The process examined is a typical indirect propylene hydration process. In this process, RG propylene reacts with sulfuric acid to form isopropyl alcohol sulfates. Those sulfates are then reacted with water to form Isopropanol. This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): "Isopropyl Alcohol", Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 5th edition Keywords: Isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol, IPA, indirect propylene hydration, evonik degussa
This report presents a cost analysis of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) production from acetone, ammonia and natural gas The process examined is similar to Evonik Aveneer process. In this process, hydrogen cyanide, acetone and methanol are used as raw materials for the production of MMA. Different from the conventional acetone cyanohydrin (ACH) process, this process does not use sulfuric acid. The hydrogen cyanide used is generated from ammonia and natural gas in an on-site unit. This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): (1) US Patent 8569539, issued to Evonik in 2013 (2) US Patent 20120232305, issued to Evonik in 2012 (3) US Patent 20080194875, issued to Evonik in 2008 Keywords: Propanone, Hydrolysis, Transesterification, Dehydration, Prussic Acid
This report presents a cost analysis of Acetone production from propylene. The process examined is a typical hydration/dehydrogenation process. In this process, propylene is directly hydrated in a catalytic reactor, producing isopropanol. Then, isopropanol is dehydrogenated in the vapor phase in a fixed bed catalyst reactor to produce acetone. This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): Keywords: Propanone, Fixed-Bed Reactor, Catalytic Reactor, Isopropyl Alcohol, 2-Propanol
This report presents a cost analysis of bio-based Butanol production from corn. The process examined is a typical Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE) fermentation process. In this process, acetone and ethanol are generated as by-products. This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): Tao, L., et al., "Comparative techno-economic analysis and reviews of n-butanol production from corn grain and corn stover", Biofuels, Bioprod. Bioref. 8:342–361, 2014 Keywords: Butyl Alcohol, Biomass, Biofuel, Milling
This report presents a cost analysis of Polycarbonate (PC) production from bisphenol A (BPA) and phosgene. The process examined is a typical interfacial process. In this process, BPA, dissolved in an aqueous solution, is reacted with phosgene, in an organic solution, at the interface of the two-phase mixture. The carbonate oligomers produced are then polycondensed to Polycarbonate resin. This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): "Polycarbonates", Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 7th edition Keywords: Thermoplastic Polymer, Interfacial Polymerization, Polycondensation
This report presents a cost analysis of large-scale Methanol production from natural gas The process examined is a typical arrangement based on conventional steam reforming of natural gas for syngas generation. Natural gas is sent to the steam reformer for producing syngas, which is then converted to Methanol. This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): "Methanol", Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 5th edition Keywords: Synthesis gas, conventional methanol process, large-scale methanol
This report presents a cost analysis of an early stage process for Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) production from glucose syrup. The process examined is similar to the one proposed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In this process, glucose is isomerized to fructose, which is then converted to Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): US Patent 20080033188, issued to Wisconsin Alumni Research Institute in 2008 Keywords: Glucose Isomerization, Dehydration, Biphasic Reactor
This report presents a cost analysis of Methyl Chloride production from methanol and hydrogen chloride. The process examined is a typical catalytic vapor phase process. In this process, methanol and anhydrous HCl are combined in vapor phase and passed through a catalyst bed. Reactor vapor outlet is quenched, dried by sulfuric acid scrubbing and then purified to generate high-purity Methyl Chloride. This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): (1) "Chloromethanes", Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2012; (2) Handbook of Industrial Chemistry and Biotechnology, 2012 Keywords: Chloromethane, R-40, HCC-40, chlorosilanes production
This report presents a cost analysis of Polylactic Acid (PLA) production from lactic acid using a melt process. The process examined is similar to NatureWorks process. In this process, an 88 wt% lactic acid solution in water is used as raw material. This report examines one-time costs associated with the construction of a United States-based plant and the continuing costs associated with the daily operation of such a plant. More specifically, it discusses: * Capital Investment, broken down by: - Total fixed capital required, divided in production unit (ISBL); infrastructure (OSBL) and contingency - Alternative perspective on the total fixed capital, divided in direct costs, indirect costs and contingency - Working capital and costs incurred during industrial plant commissioning and start-up * Production cost, broken down by: - Manufacturing variable costs (raw materials, utilities) - Manufacturing fixed costs (maintenance costs, operating charges, plant overhead, local taxes and insurance) - Depreciation and corporate overhead costs * Raw materials consumption, products generation and labor requirements * Process block flow diagram and description of industrial site installations (production unit and infrastructure) This report was developed based essentially on the following reference(s): (1) US Patent 8674056, issued to NatureWorks in 2014; (2) EP Patent 1247808, issued to Cargill in 2003 Keywords: Lactide, 2-Hydroxypropanoic Acid, Dow, Biodegradable Polymer
