Chapter 3
Process description and modeling
3.1 Process Description of Propylene Glycol Production Process
The physical properties of propylene glycol are colourless and clear syrupy liquid when exists at room temperature. Besides than in liquid form, it also may exists in vapor form in air. In order to produce a colourless and odourless chemical, propylene glycol (C3H8O2, PG) involve in the reaction of propylene oxide and water. This involve the process of the hydrolysis of propylene oxide (C3H6O, PO) with the presence of excess water and a small concentration of catalyst. The catalyst that plays the role in this reaction is the sulphuric acid. The reaction occurs in the reactor at the reasonable rate which near the ambient temperatures. The temperature of the solution can rises due to the continuous reaction process. The heat reaction because of the temperature of propylene oxide which is 36,400 Btu/lbmol at 68°F. The continuous reaction causes the solution change to vapour phase. So, in order to keep the solution in liquid phase, the temperature of the solution have to be control since the propylene oxides low …show more content…
The first reaction involve the propylene oxide and water. To form propylene glycol, propylene oxide undergoes the hydrolysis process with water. Besides that, the reaction of propylene glycol with water also yields the production of dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol and the higher molecular weight of polyglycol. The mechanism of the reaction involve the addition of excess water to propylene oxide in order to maximize the production of the reaction that yields monopropylene glycol. Normally, the commercial process uses only the heat and pressure to enhance the reaction of the production. However there are other alternative way to enhance the production reaction which are the uses of catalyst or other acid base catalyst. The catalyst that use in this reaction is Sulphuric
Process description and modeling
3.1 Process Description of Propylene Glycol Production Process
The physical properties of propylene glycol are colourless and clear syrupy liquid when exists at room temperature. Besides than in liquid form, it also may exists in vapor form in air. In order to produce a colourless and odourless chemical, propylene glycol (C3H8O2, PG) involve in the reaction of propylene oxide and water. This involve the process of the hydrolysis of propylene oxide (C3H6O, PO) with the presence of excess water and a small concentration of catalyst. The catalyst that plays the role in this reaction is the sulphuric acid. The reaction occurs in the reactor at the reasonable rate which near the ambient temperatures. The temperature of the solution can rises due to the continuous reaction process. The heat reaction because of the temperature of propylene oxide which is 36,400 Btu/lbmol at 68°F. The continuous reaction causes the solution change to vapour phase. So, in order to keep the solution in liquid phase, the temperature of the solution have to be control since the propylene oxides low …show more content…
The first reaction involve the propylene oxide and water. To form propylene glycol, propylene oxide undergoes the hydrolysis process with water. Besides that, the reaction of propylene glycol with water also yields the production of dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol and the higher molecular weight of polyglycol. The mechanism of the reaction involve the addition of excess water to propylene oxide in order to maximize the production of the reaction that yields monopropylene glycol. Normally, the commercial process uses only the heat and pressure to enhance the reaction of the production. However there are other alternative way to enhance the production reaction which are the uses of catalyst or other acid base catalyst. The catalyst that use in this reaction is Sulphuric