PRODUCTION OF METHYL ETHYL

KETONE FROM SECONDARY BUTANOL

Process flow sheet
PROCESS SELECTION:
I have selected the dehydrogenation process for MEK production because of following
advantage.
1. In dehydrogenation hydrogen as a byproduct is obtained that can be used as a furnace
fuel.
2. In dehydrogenation process, there is the feasibility of separating the MEK from the
reaction products.
3. The dehydrogenation process can easily be carried out at moderate temperature and at
atmospheric pressure.
4. In dehydrogenation process, 90% of MEK can easily be converted to MEK.
5. Selective oxidation process require controlled conditions so it becomes uneconomical.
6. Chromic acid and sulphuric acid in aqueous acetone is required for selective oxidation of
butanol while only brass is required for dehydrogenation of butanol.
7. The dehydrogenation reaction is a single step reaction and there are negligible chances of
producing byproduct while oxidation is a three step reaction.
8. From the literature survey, it can be found that the dehydrogenation process is the most
economical process.
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
The cold feed of secondary butyl alcohol is pumped from the storage to a steam heater
and then to a vertical thermo-syphon reboiler (vaporizer) in which the alcohol is vaporized. The
thermo-syphon reboiler will be heated by the reaction products discharge from the reactor and
the wet alcohol vapors will be passed to a knock-out drum (separator) to remove any entrained
liquid. The liquid separated will be recycled and the dry alcohol vapors will be fed to a super
heater 1 where they are super heated to a temperature of 573 K. The super heated vapors are then
compressed to a second super heater 2 where they are heated to a temperature of 773 K. In these
super heaters, the vapors are heated with the help of flue gases at high temperature. The
superheated butyl alcohol vapours are fed to the reactor at 400-500 ºC where 90% is converted
on a zinc oxide_ brass catalyst to methyl ethyl ketone and hydrogen. The reaction is,

CH3CH2–CHOH–CH3 CH3CH2-CO-CH3 + H2
(2- butanol) (methyl ethyl ketone) (hydrogen)
The reaction products are then cooled in a vaporizer where there heat is utilized to vaporize
the butanol feed liquid. The cooled products gases are then condensed in a water cool partial
condenser where almost 80% of the MEK and unreacted butanol is condensed and the
condensate is passed to a distillation unit. The gases effluent from the partial condenser is send to
the absorber to recover remaining uncondensed MEK and alcohol. In the absorber, water is used
 as an absorbent which absorb MEK and alcohol and leave from the bottom of the absorber. The
off gases from the absorber containing all hydrogen, negligible water, MEK and alcohol are
dried and used in a plant fuel system. The liquid discharged from the absorber is sent to a liquid-
liquid extraction column where trichloroethane is used to extract the MEK and alcohol and the
raffinate contains water is recycled back to the absorber along with the small amount of makeup
water. The extract from the liquid-liquid extraction column is sent to a solvent recovery column
where trichloroethane is recovered at the bottom and is recycled back to a liquid-liquid extraction
column. The top product from the solvent recovery unit is sent to a distillation column along
with the condensate from the partial condenser. In the distillation column, 99% pure MEK is
obtained as distillate and send to a storage where as the butyl alcohol obtained as a bottom
product, is recycled back and mix with a fresh feed for reprocessing.

FLOW SHEET FOR THE PRODUCTION OF

METHYL ETHYL KETONE
Make up water

6
169KPa 11 13'
642 K 150KPa
300 K
2 13
142KPa 121KPa
373 K 300 K 18
101KPa
16
14 303 K
2-butanol feed
300 K
17
141 P-78
KPa
308
K
Pre-heater
1'
144KPa
MEK Storage
1 373 K
Storage 145KPa
298 K Separator Reactor
Vaporizer
Absorber Cooler
3 12
Pump 5
133KPa 101KPa
353KPa 15
373 K 310 K
773 K Distillation Column
3'
131KPa
Superheater 1
573 K 4 10 Solvent Recovery Column
E-34
355KPa 156KPa
583 K 335 K
Superheater 2
Liq-Liq Extraction Column
7
163KPa
398 K 9
Compressor 8 299 K

Partial Condenser
Separator
19