Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Dr. N. K. Patel
Lecture:9 Phthalic acid
Module: 2
Lecture: 9
PHTHALIC ACID
INTRODUCTION
Phthalic acid was the first commercial product among the various
benzene polycarboxylic acids. It is obtained via phthalic anhydride. Phthalic
anhydride (C6H4(CO)2O) is the organic compound and it is the anhydride
form of phthalic acid. It was the first anhydride of a dicarboxylic acid which is
utilized commercially.
NPTEL 1
Module:2
Dr. N. K. Patel
Lecture:9 Phthalic acid
MANUFACTURE
Phthalic anhydride
Raw materials
Reaction
Manufacture process
Naphthalene
Water
Salt
cooler
Melting
kettle
Primary Water
air
Flue
Vaporizer gases Water
Reactor
Flue
gases
Vapor
Secondary cooler
air Air
Water
Air Air
Air
Flaker
condenser
Air
Column
Melt Phthalic
tank anhydride
Steam
Waste
Figure: Manufacture of phthalic anhydride from naphthalene
NPTEL 2
Module:2
Dr. N. K. Patel
Lecture:9 Phthalic acid
Naphthalene was charged into melting kettle where it was melted and
pumped to a vaporizer, where it was vaporized with bubbling primary
preheated air through the molten material.
These primary air and naphthalene vapour mixture was passed from
reactor where additional (secondary) air was added to bring the air-
naphthalene ratio to 18 - 22:1 by weight. At 357 4540C temperature and
0.1 0.6sec contact time throughout the reaction was maintained. Reactor
consisting of multiple tubes filled with vanadium pentoxide as a catalyst. Heat
of reaction mass was removed either by boiling mercury under suitable
pressure or by pumping salt across the tube bank. In the reactor the
naphthalene was oxidized to phthalic anhydride, carbon dioxide, and water.
Hot vapours coming out from reactor first cooled in vapour cooler that
reduced the gas temperature to just above the dew point (1260C) then led
to air condenser where crude phthalic anhydride crystallized on the walls
which was further melted in melt tank using steam. Then melted mass was
purified using distillation and flake of phthalic anhydride was obtained which
was sent for packaging.
Raw material
Reaction
NPTEL 3
Module:2
Dr. N. K. Patel
Lecture:9 Phthalic acid
Manufacture process
Purified air and o-xylene were first heated in vaporizer and preheater.
These hot vapours were mixed properly in mixer at 140 1500C and under a
pressure of 2atm. After that this hot vapour mixture was sent to the reactor
where oxidation takes place in presence of vanadium pentoxide as catalyst
at 5500C. Reactor contain tubes which were filled with catalyst.
Water
Flue Salt
gases cooler
o-xylene Water
Preheater
Water
Flue
gases
Mixer
Vapor
Reactor cooler Slack
gases
Water
Air Air
Vaporizer
Flue Condenser
Flaker
Flue gases
gases
Column
Steam
Waste
Figure: Manufacture of phthalic anhydride from o-xylene
NPTEL 4
Module:2
Dr. N. K. Patel
Lecture:9 Phthalic acid
phthalic acid, a small amount of benzoic acid and maleic anhydride were
also produced.
Raw material
Reaction
Manufacture process
Hydrolyzer
Water
Phthalic
anhydride
Dryer
Filter
Air
Recycle to Hot air
process Phthalic
acid
Figure: Manufacture of Phthalic acid from phthalic anhydride
Animation
NPTEL 5
Module:2
Dr. N. K. Patel
Lecture:9 Phthalic acid
Engineering aspects
Design of reactor
Catalyst
NPTEL 6
Module:2
Dr. N. K. Patel
Lecture:9 Phthalic acid
PROPERTIES
USES
NPTEL 7