Question

Read the flowsheet given in Figure Q2 and answer the following questions: i) What type of column is T-501? i) What is the main product of this process? i)Is the reaction inside R-501 exothermic or endothermic (justify)? iv)Is there any reboiler in the process? (If yes specify by equipment number) v) What type of column is T-502? vi)Why we cool stream 7 vii) Why we use di butyl phthalate in this process? viii) Is there any inert compound in this process (ifyes specify)? ix) Is there any recycle x) How many compressors were used in this flowsheet (sepecify by equipment number)? 1.5 marks each] ream in this process (if yes, sepecify by stream number)? Dibutyl Phthalate E-501 V-501 Waste Gas poc Benzene Ips H-501 E-503 T-501 Air CW C-501 Maleic air ng Anhydride T-502 R-501 poc H-502 cw E-502 Figure Q2: Maleic Anhydride Plant

Answer 1

1. T-501 is an Absorber Column, Which can be easily identified with Equipment picture or else Dibutyl phthalate is a organic solvent which is sent into the column, to absorb Maleic anhydride.

2. The main product of this Process is Maleic Anhydride

3. The reaction inside R-501 is Exothermic, because cooling water is sent into the reactor to absorb the heat released.

4. H-502 is a Reboiler in this process

5. T-502 is a Distillation column , Which can be easily identified with Equipment Picture or else the column is attached with condensor in the top and reboiler in the bottom, Which is obviously a Distillation column.

6. We cool steam 7 to make it easy to get absorbed by Organic solvent Dibutyl Phthlate,so that waste gases which is present in the stream 7 such as CO₂ will not get condensed and sent out as a Waste gas.

7. We use Dibutyl Phthalate as an Organic solvent to absorb Maleic Anhydride in the absorber column

8. Nitrogen which is prsent in the air, is a Inert in this process. Since only Oxygen reacts with Benzene to produce Maleic Anhydride.

9. Stream 13 is a Recycle Stream in this process. It contains Maleic anhydride along with few waste gases.

10. C-501 is the only compressor used in this process.