1.

INTRODUCTION

Terephthalic acid is a prime component in the poly-ester industry, as well

as

useful

in

polyester

fibre

and

polyester

terephthalate

(PET)

manufacturing. Oxidation process of p-xylene produced about 70% of

terephthalic acid used in PET manufacturing. Besides, terephthalic acid
application can be used in the manufacturing of plastic ware and drinking
bottles, textiles, as a carrier in paints, and also as a coating resin (Nor
Aqilah Mohd Fadzil, 20 October 2014).
BP Zhuhai Chemical Company (Ltd.), British Petroleum (BP) and JBF
Petrochemicals Ltd. (JBF) are the largest producers of terephthalic acid in
commercial production, with production of terephthalic acid of more than
10 Metric tonnes annually. All the plants are located in North America,
Europe, China, and India. Currently, the market price of terephthalic acid is
about 1100 to 1200 USD per tonne (Nor Aqilah Mohd Fadzil, 20 October
2014).
Terephthalic acid made by air oxidation of p-xylene requires
purification for use in polyester fiber manufacture. A typical continuous
process is needed for the manufacture of crude terephthalic acid (C-TPA).
The oxidation and product recovery portion essentially consists of the MidCentury oxidation process. As practiced by dimethyl terephthalate (DMT)
technology, the recovery and recycle of acetic acid, and recovery of
methyl acetate are essential (Organic Chemical Process Industry, 1995).
In the DMT process, the terephthalic acid contained in C-TPA is
converted to a form that will permit its separation from impurities. C-TPA is
extremely immiscible in most common organic solvents as well as in
water. Additionally, it is sublimes rather that melt. Some products of partial
oxidation of p-xylene, such as p-toluic acid and p-formyl benzoic acid,
appear as impurities in TPA (Organic Chemical Process Industry, 1995).
Terephthalic

acid

is

non-toxic

to

aquatic

organisms

with

concentrations lower than its water solubility, which is 15 mg/l at 10 oC. It is

not expected to bioaccumulate. However, terephthalic acid biodegrades in

soil and surface water under aerobic conditions, and also is subject to
hydroxy radical oxidation in the atmosphere (Hernandez, April 20, 2001).

5.0

THE CHOICE OF PROCESS CONDITIONS ADOPTED

Air compressed (stream 1), p-xylene (stream 2), and mixture of fresh
acetic acid and recovered acetic acid pumped (stream 4) to a reaction
pressure of about 1800 kPa are fed to the reactor (R-101). The
temperature of the exothermic reaction is maintained at about 200C by
controlling

the

pressure.

The

purification

portion

involves

the

hydrogenation of C-TPA at about 1400 kPa and 400C in reactor (R-102).

High-pressure water solution of the hydrogenated material recrystallized
the high-purity of TPA. The final purification step consists essentially of a
continuous

sublimation

and

condensation

procedure,

which

the

combination of C-TPA with small quantities of hydrogen and a solid catalyst

is dispersed in steam, and transported to a furnace (stream 26) at 250 oC
and 1400 kPa.

6.0

OPTIMUM PROCESS CONDITIONS

The oxidation of pxylene to terephthalic acid is conducted in acidic

medium at a high temperature of 200C. In pxylene oxidation that uses a
bromide ion, the oxidation temperature should be lower than the
commercial one, which in range of 175 oC to 225C in order to make the
reaction process less hazardous, to lower the corrosion rate of the reactor,
and to hinder the negative effect of the corrosive bromide ion at high
temperature (Nor Aqilah Mohd Fadzil, 20 October 2014).

REFERENCE
(1995, January). Retrieved May 8, 2016, from Organic Chemical Process Industry:
https://www3.epa.gov/ttnchie1/ap42/ch06/final/c06s11.pdf
Hernandez, D. O. (April 20, 2001). Terephthalic Acid (TPA). Paris, France: Unep
Publication.
Nor Aqilah Mohd Fadzil, M. H. (20 October 2014). A brief review of paraxylene
oxidation to terephthalic acid as a model of primary CH bond activation.
Elsevier, 1641.

PURIFICATION SECTION
1. Install pump at stream 22
To increase the pressure from 1400 kPa to 1480 kPa, in order to have
same inlet pressure as other feeds.
2. Install cooler at stream 21
To minimize the pressure and temperature from 1480 kPa and 258.9oC
to 1400 kPa and 250oC respectively same as in stream 28.