Environmental analysis

The production of Phthalic Anhydride involves the catalytic oxidation of o-xylene by the

following reaction(s): C8H10 + 3O2 C8H4O3 + 3H2O (EQ1), C8H10 + 7.5O2 C4H2O +

4H2O + 4CO2 (EQ2) and complete combustion reaction C8H10 + 10.5O2 5H2O + 8CO2

(EQ3). The chemical process involves six chemical compounds, these are; o-xylene, oxygen,

phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, water and carbon dioxide. After the reaction process

fractions of these compounds are emitted as waste; from the simulation data it is seen that

nitrogen 76% (1611083656.46031kg/y) makes up the majority of the waste stream, followed by

oxygen 17% (373889115kg/y) while carbon dioxide 3.05% (64078560.01831kg/y) and water

2.19% (45902220.00000) are in minority as well as negligible amounts of phthalic (8.98155

kg/y) and maleic anhydride (14.94956kg/y).

In regards to workers safety and in Accordance to the MSDS on carbon dioxide, if the

concentration of Carbon Dioxide reaches 10% or more, suffocation can occur rapidly and given

that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the emission stream adopted from the environmental

report is 3.05%. This poses a minute risk if humans are subjected to exposure as inhalation of

carbon dioxide concentrations between 2-10% are however deemed a safety hazard and can

cause nausea, dizziness, headache, mental confusion, and increased blood pressure and

respiratory rate. And in terms of the environment on a planetary scale, carbon dioxide from this

production process amounts to 64078560.01831kg/y which contributes to global warming as

carbon dioxide is a known greenhouse gas. The MSDS for nitrogen informs over exposure to

nitrogen at these high levels (83.9%) may cause symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, headaches

and unconsciousness in humans; under some circumstances even death may occur. From the

superpro environmental report the oxygen concentration in the emission stream was 76%. Even
though the waste stream of the production process emits only 76% nitrogen, if oxygen levels fall

below 10% nitrogen gas may result in Convulsive movements, possible respiratory collapse, and

death to humans. If the concentration was within the range (10-19%) this can cause breathing or

pulse rate increases, and muscular coordination being slightly disturbed, an occurrence known as

asphyxiation (see table 1for oxygen-deficient exposure in appendix). Nitrogen is also known to

have no environmental impacts.

Based on studies from EPA (S.E.P.A), maleic anhydride can enter the body either by

inhalation of air containing maleic acid, accidental ingestion of maleic acid, or by dermal contact

with maleic acid. Inhalation of air containing maleic anhydride can cause chemical burns to the

respiratory tract and repeated exposure results in an allergic respiratory reaction. Ingestion of

maleic anhydride may cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting, and burns to the

gastrointestinal tract. Dermal contact with maleic anhydride can cause severe skin irritation and

burns. Exposure over long periods of time may cause dermatitis. However, given this

information, exposure to maleic anhydride at normal background levels is unlikely to have any

adverse effect on human health. In terms of health risk associated with phthalic anhydride

emission, according to EPA U.S (1999), exposure to phthalic anhydride may occur during its use

as a chemical intermediate in the plastics industry. The acute (short-term) effects from exposure

to phthalic anhydride in humans consist of irritation to the eyes, respiratory tract, and skin, but

no permanent injury is observed. Chronic (long-term) effects observed in workers exposed to

phthalic anhydride included conjunctivitis, rhinitis, rhino conjunctivitis, bronchitis, and irritation

of the skin and mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. From the superpro report, phthalic

anhydride in the waste stream is only 8.98155 kg/y and is fairly negligible and thus has little or

no environmental impacts with regards to this production process.

References

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc (2014). Dangers of oxygen-deficient atmospheres. Retrived

from http://www.airproducts.com/~/media/files/pdf/company/safetygram-17.pdf

MSDS for Carbon Dioxide. Retrieved from http://amp.generalair.com/MsdsDocs/PA4574S.pdf

MSDS for Nitrogen. Retrieved from http://www.claremoore.com/wp-

content/uploads/2015/03/Nitrogen-Sept.-2016.pdf

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. Cincinnati, OH. 1997.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) on Phthalic

Anhydride. National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and

Development, Washington, DC.1999.

Appendix

Adopted from Air Products and Chemicals, Inc (2014).