Environmental impacts of 3-pentanone production

3-Pentanone can be produced by catalytic ketonization oI propionic acid over a catalyst at

300
o
C:

174 kg oI propionic acid is preheated using 131.2 MJ/100 kg and then Ied to a Iixed bed
reactor which operated at 300 oC. Energy oI 51.6 MJ/100 kg is needed to keep a reaction
conditions. For both processes energy is delivered Irom natural gas.

Reaction yield is 93 . The product mixture Irom reactor (3-pentanone, water and CO2) is
condensed and then pumped to liquid/gas separator where CO2 is released to atmosphere.
Since 3-pentanone is slightly soluble in water, the purity oI the product obtained Irom the
decanter is 92 weight . The product is Iurther puriIied in a vacuum distillation column with
estimated energy input oI 54.7 MJ / 100 kg Irom which 90 is delivered Irom heavy Iuel oil
and 10 Irom hydropower.

Flow diagram oI the overall process is presented in Figure 2.

PerIorm LCA and estimate environmental impacts oI presented production, using 100 t oI the
Iinal product (3-pentanone).