PRODUCTION OF ISO-PROPANOL FROM

PROPYLENE
Iso-propanol is produced by propylene hydration .The hydration can be
conducted through two protocols: either by homogeneous sulfuric acid or by
heterogeneous ion exchange resin catalyst.

Sulfuric acid hydration: Reaction proceeds via carbonium ion formation as

follows:

Followed by Hydration:

Direct hydration of propylene using cation exchange

resin catalyst renders 75% conversion under following operating
condition: Pressure: 60-100 bar; Temperature : 130 -180 C

ACRYLONITRILE : AMMOXIDATION OF PROPYLENE

Side Reactions:

SOHIO Process: Catalyst: Bismuth Phospho-molybdate

Temperature: 425-500 0C; Pressure: 1-3 bar; Fluidized bed Reactor

The atomic ratio of bismuth to molybdenum should not exceed one,

otherwise, it would render complete oxidation to CO 2

Yield of Acrylonitrile (b.p. 78.5 C) : 80% ; it dissolves in organic solvent

and moderately in water.
HCN and CH3CN obtained are saleable byproduct
 BUTANE DEHYDROGENATION

During dehydrogenation of n- butane , five major products appear:

n-butene
cis-2-butene
trans-2-butene
propylene
ethylene

D E H Y D R O G E N AT I O N OF BUTANE
Single stage dehydrogenation yields olefins and two stage dehydrogenation results in
the formation of dienes. Catalyst selection is dependent on the operating conditions.
Catalyst Type Fe2O3, CuO, Al2O3 Al2O3 90%
K2O supported Cr2O3, 8%;
Transition K2O
Metal
Feed Butane(i/n) n Butane Butane
Product Butadiene/ n Butene Butene
Butenes /
Propylene
Temperature 580-650 C 520-550 C 575-600 C
Reactor Type Vertical Adiabatic Vertical
Adiabatic Tubular
Conversion 40-50% 80% 20%
Space Velocity 150 h-1 430 h-1 200 h-1

THE REACTORS MAY BE FIXED OR FLUIDIZED BED

Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) Reactor Moving Bed Reactor (MBR
Fluidized bed reactor for butane dehydrogenation

Butene and Butadiene

RECOVERY OF AROMATICS
Composition of C8 Aromatics from different Sources
DEVELOPMENTS IN XYLENE SEPARATION
 Phthalic Anhydride(PA) from O-Xylene
Hot Air: 140-150oC; 2 bar (outside inflammability limit);
Fixed bed reactor(shell &Tube); V2O5(catalyst); 550oC; PA sublimes & collected at switch
condenser; deposited film is melted by steam; vacuum distilled; Maleic anhydride byproduct (50 kg
/ton PA)
ALKYLATION OF BENZENE WITH ETHYLENE

Solid AlCl3 is used along with ethyl chloride in order to

avoid the difficulty in feeding Solid AlCl3 . HCl is used as
a promoter for AlCl3 , and reduces its consumption.
Common alkylation catalysts : AlCl3, H3PO4 , H2SO4 ,
alumina- silicates.
Cumene from Benzene
alkylation with
Propylene
 Alkylation Reaction Conditions

3-5 bar; liquid 110-120oC

70-80oC; Sulfuric acid catalyst; byproduct -methyl styrene is hydrogenated to cumene

 Phenol and Acetone Production From Cumene

Halcon Process conditions: Cu/SiO2-Al2O3 catalyst, 250oC , 60-80 bar. Gaseous NH3 or
aqueous solution of NH3 (20-30% concentration) can be used.
Low grade phenol can be used
 Methods of Polymerization

Method State of Product Form

Monomer
Bulk In natural form Melt, in
solution/slurry
Solution In solvent Liquid (for
adhesives) /slurry
Suspension In water (catalyst Beads in slurry
insoluble)
Emulsion In water (soluble Latex
catalyst)
 ZIEGLER NATTA (COORDINATION) CATALYST -- MECHANISM

35 bar; 50-90oC

n-hexane

Solvay Process for HDPE

 Polyethylene Production Ziegler Process

Temperature pressure range in HDPE process (Ziegler-Natta Catalyst)

 Production of Polypropylene

Mechanism of Emulsion Polymerization

 Production of PVC

Production of Styrene