Question

PRODUCTION OF ACETONE VIA THE DEHYDROGENATION OF ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL (IPA) It is required to produce 15x104 t/y of 99.9 mol% of acetone as per the following reaction: CH3) CHOH (PA. (CH3) CO (ACETONE)+Ha H-62.9 kl/mol (1) The reaction conditions are typically 2 bar and 350 C, giving a single pass conversion of 90%. Process Description An azeotropic mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water (88 wt % IPA) is fed into a surge tank, where it is mixed with the recycled unreacted IPA/water mixture. This material is then pumped and vaporized prior to entering the reactor. Heat is provided for the endothermic reaction using a circulating stream of molten salt. The reactor effluent, containing acetone, hydrogen, water, and unreacted IPA, is cooled in two stages: first by cooling water and then by refrigerated water prior to entering a flash separator. The gas phase leaving the separator is scrubbed by process water to recover additional acetone, and then this liquid is combined with the liquid leaving the bottom of the separator and sent to distillation. Two towers are used to separate the acetone product and to remove the excess water from the unreacted IPA, which is then recycled as an azeotropic mixture. Reaction Kinetics Reaction (1) is kinetically controlled and occurs in the vapor phase over a catalyst. The reaction is first order w.r.t the c of IPA and the rate is expressed by Where E-72.38 MI/soel ko - 3.51x105sCn-kmol/m The catalyst is packed in 2-in diameter tubes, each 20 feet long, and with a concurrent of heat transfer medium on the shell-and-tube reactor Project Execution Plan The plan is divided into two parts: individual work and group work. In the individual work each member of the group shall do the following 1. Look and describe an alternative process for the production of acetone 2. Follow the design procedure for the given process until you draw the PFD 3. Using ASPEN HYSYS platform simulate the PFD. 4. From the results of the simulation calculate EP1 and EP2.

Answer 1

1. There are many processes available to produce acetone. Acetone is a very simple Ketone and a very useful solvent having a wide range of applications. We should choose a process which is cost effective and give the maximum possible yield. so as given oxidation of alcohol is one process other can be oxidation of isopropylbenzene also known as cumene which gives both phenol and acetone as product

2.
ACETONE tank 88% Isopropanol RECYCLED HO Steam Flue gss or steam of Tubular reactor RECYCLED IPA