1. The Production of Propylene Oxide Using Cell Liquor
Meshal Al-Rumaidhi
Hassan Ghanim Ali Al-Haddad
Abdulrahman Habib
Supervised by:
Prof. : Mohammed Fahim
Eng. : Yousif Ali

2. Agenda Introduction Production Routes Reactions
Feed Stocks (Raw Material)
Final Product
Thermodynamics
Yield Calculation
Process Technology and Flowsheets
Process Alternatives (Licensors)
Health and Safety Issues
Uses of Propylene Oxide
World Production
Comparison of PO Production Routes
Conclusion

3. Introduction What is Propylene Oxide?
Propylene oxide (also known as PO, methyloxirane, 1.2-epoxypropane) is a significant organic chemical used primary as a reaction intermediate for production of polyether polyols, propylene glycol, alkanolamines (qv), glycol ethers, and many other useful products. It is an important propylene-derived chemical. In the united state, it is estimated that PO is the third largest derivative of propylene.

4. Cont. Introduction History of Propylene Oxide:
The first preparation of PO was reported in wurz’s laboratory in 1860 union carbide started development in 1925, and PO became a leading industrial chemical after World War II when its importance in polyurethanes was recognized.

5. Production Routes
The selection of production routes is decisively influenced by the application and market potential of co-products, as well as by availability of raw materials and possibilities for byproduct management.
Technologies developed up to this point can be divided into:
Chlorohydrin Processes
Indirect Oxidation Processes
Direct Oxidation Processes

6. Cont. Production Routes

7. Reaction
Chlorohydrin Reaction:
Saponification Reaction:

8. Feed Stocks (Raw Materials)
Propylene
Chlorine
Water
Sodium Hydroxide

9. Final Product
Physical and Chemical properties for Propylene Oxide (PO):
Propylene oxide is a colorless, highly volatile, very soluble in water, and flammable liquid at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure.
Physical State Liquid
Odor Ethereal
Molecular Weight g/mol
Boiling Point °C
Melting Point °C
Flash Point °C

10. Thermodynamics
The PO production is consisting of three exothermic reactions:
Chlorohydrin Reaction
Saponification Reaction

11. Yield Calculation Conversion of Propylene = 97%
Selectivity of propylene = 95%
Yield = Selectivity * Conversion
= 0.97*0.95
= 92.15%
Real yield PO = 89.4%
The calculation yield is approximate to real yield.

12. Process Technology and Flowsheets
Design Bases & Assumption
Chlorohydrination
Type of reactor Packed column
Temperature & Pressure °C & 60 psia
Conversion of Propylene %
Selectivity to PCH mol%
Selectivity to PDC mol%
Selectivity to DCIPE and other mol%
Saponification
Type of reactor Tray column
Temperature & Pressure °C & 65 psia
Amount of cell liquor added % excess alkali
Conversion of PCH %
Selectivity to PO mol%
Selectivity to propylene glycol mol%

16. Process Conditions Chlorohydrination: Type of reactor Packed Columns
Temperature oC
Pressure psia
Saponification:
Type of reactor Tray Column
Temperature oC
Pressure psia

17. Health and Safety Issues
Flammability Hazards
Reactivity Hazards
Explosibility
Toxicology and Occupational Health Hazards

18. Uses of Propylene Oxide
PO is an important basic chemical intermediate. Virtually all the PO produced is converted into derivatives, often for applications similar to those of ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives.
PO is used primarily to produce polyether polyols, propylene glycols, propylene glycol ethers and, and many other useful products.

19. Cont. Uses

20. Cont. Uses

22. World Production

23. Process Alternatives (Licensors)
PO Using Chlorohydrine Process by Lime.
PO Using Indirect Oxidation Process by Isobutane.
PO Using Indirect Oxidation Process by Ethyl Benzene.
PO by Direct Oxidation.

24. Reaction (Chlorohydrine Process by Lime)
Chlorohydrin Reaction:
Saponification Reaction:

25. Process Conditions Chlorohydrination: Type of reactor Packed Columns
Temperature oC
Pressure psia
Saponification:
Type of reactor Tray Column
Temperature oC
Pressure psia

26. Typical arrangement for PO using chlorohydrins process by Lime
Propylene chlorohydrin reactor; b) Separator; c) Vent gas scrubber; d) Saponifier;
e) Partial condenser; f) Cross exchanger; g) Compressor;
h) Propylene oxide purification train; i)Drums

27. Reaction (Indirect Oxidation Process by Isobutane)
The main reaction of this process

28. Process Conditions (Indirect Oxidation Process by Isobutane)
Type of reactor Peroxidation reactor
Temperature – 140 oC
Pressure – 35 bar
Catalyst not needed
Type of reactor Epoxidation reactor
Temperature oC
Pressure bar
Catalyst Molybdnum

29. Flow scheme for PO-tert butyl alcohol
a) Vent column; b) Lights scrubber; c) PO column; d) tert-butyl alcohol lights column; e) tert-butyl alcohol column

30. Reaction (Indirect Oxidation Process by Ethyl Benzene)
The main reaction of this process

31. Process Conditions (Indirect Oxidation Process by Ethyl Benzene)
Type of reactor Peroxidation reactor
Temperature oC
Pressure bar
Type of reactor Epoxidation reactor
Temperature oC
Pressure bar
Catalyst Molybdnum
Type of reactor Dehydration reactor
Temperature oC
Pressure bar
Catalyst Alumina

32. Flow scheme for PO-styrene process
a) Separator; b) Recycle column; c) Crude PO column; d) Ethylbenzene recycle column

33. PO by Direct Oxidation The Disadvantage of Direct Oxidation:
Difficult in Controlling Temperature.
Several of by-Products.

34. Comparison of PO Production Routes:
Chlorohydrin process, %
PO/styrene process, %
PO/tert-butyl alcohol process, %
Direct oxidation, %
World PO capacity, 1000 t/a
World PO consumption, 1000t/a

35. Conclusion
Propylene oxide via Chlorohydrin Processes Using Cell Liquor is useful technique and has many advantages that our country needed.
We cannot decide if it’s the best method before we studying the costs.

36. Thank You