CHAPTER 1 MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

Topics covered;

2.1 Methods of production

2.2 Selected Method

2.3 Process Description

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CHAPTER 1 MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

2.1 METHODS OF PREPARATION

There are basically two routs for the production of isopropyl acetate;

A. SIMULTANEOUS CO PRODUCTION AND PURIFICATION OF ISOPROPYL

ACETATE

This method relates to the production of organic carboxylic acid esters and in
particular to a process for simultaneously co-producing ethyl acetate and
isopropyl acetate in a reaction mixture comprising a mixed alcohol stream of
ethanol and isopropanol, with acetic acid, in the liquid phase in the presence
of an acidic catalyst.

The process further relates to the subsequent separation of ethyl acetate and
isopropyl acetate from the crude acetate ester mixture, and to the removal of
impurities which may be present there.

PROCESS FLOW SHEET

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CHAPTER 1 MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

DISADVANTAGES

 Purity of the raw material is of utmost importance.

 Very much expensive to install.
 Operating cost is high.
 High chances of occurring the side reactions.
 Purity of product is lower.

B. PROCESS OF PRODUCING ISOPROPYL ACETATE FROM PROPYLENE AND

ACETIC ACID

This is an improved process for the refinement of isopropyl acetate, whereby

there can be prepared isopropyl acetate having high purity 99%. In which a
distillate fraction having a carbon number of 3 obtained by catalytically
cracking petroleum’s such as Naphtha or Crude propylene by produced in a
process for the preparation of isobutene by the hydrogenation of isobutane.

ADVANTAGES

 Purity is high
 Yield is better
 Raw material is cheaper
 There are no critical criteria to select raw material.
 Catalyst used is cheaper.
 Lesser number of equipments is used.
 Reaction conditions are not severe.

2.2 SELECTED METHOD

The method selected is on following basis

 The Quality of the desired product

 Cost of raw material
 Capital cost
 Operational cost
 Environmental effects

So on the basis of that we select the process of producing isopropyl acetate

from propylene and acetic acid.

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2.3 PROCESS DESCRIPTION

Propylene
Propane
i-butene

Vertical
Fixed bed gas/liquid
catalytic separator
reactor

Gases (propylene,
propane, Inerts)

Acetic acid Liquid

Water stream

Isopropyl acetate
(99%)
Isopropyl ether
Sec-butyl acetate

Storage
tank

Isopropyl
acetate (99%)
Acetic Acid
Sec-butyl acetate

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CHAPTER 1 MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

RAW MATERIAL

A hydrocarbon mixture containing

 Above 70% by weight of propylene is preferably used in the industrial

process for the preparation of isopropyl acetate as starting propylene
from the view point of cost.

 It includes a distillate fraction having a carbon number of 3 which is

obtained by catalytically cracking petroleum such as naphtha or
crude propylene of isobutene by dehydrogenation of isobutene.

 There are various sources from which we can obtain Propylene gas
but we have to select the one which is most suitable & most
economical to meet our requirements.

SOURCES OF REACTANTS

 Propylene

o Catalytic Cracking of Naphtha

o Dehydrogenation of isobutane to isobutene
o Direct production of Propylene

 Acetic Acid

o From petroleum sources.

Propylene from Naphtha:

Propylene obtained from this source primarily contains propylene (up to 76%)
along with propane & olefins up to C4.

Propylene from isobutane:

Here the propylene obtained isn't that pure & mainly contains methane,
propane, ethane, isobutane, isobutene & olefins up to C4.

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PREFERRED SOURCE

 We prefer to use propylene obtained from the catalytic cracking of

naphtha.

 The reason of selecting propylene from this source is its high purity &
lesser amount of other hydrocarbon gases which would decrease the
efficiency of our process.

 If we use propylene obtained during the dehydrogenation of

isobutane to isobutene, then the higher amount of butene would
enhance the formation of a mixture of esters which in turn would
decrease the efficiency of overall process

ABOUT CATALYST (Ion exchange resins)

 Ion exchange resins find applications as:

o Softeners
o Reinforcing agents for rubber
o For drying the oils

 Various acidic ion exchange catalysts are:

o Sulphuric acid
o Methyl sulphuric acid
o Dimethyl Sulphate
o Diethyl Sulphate
o Ethyl sulphuric acid
o Diphonix Resin Polymer

 Out of the above listed catalysts, we prefer to use the first one i.e.
Diphonix Resin Polymer because of ease of affordable cost, availability
in any purity etc

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CHAPTER 1 MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

CHEMICAL EQUATION

Isopropyl acetate can be produced by direct catalytic vapor-liquid phase

reaction between propylene and acetic acid as given below.

CH2=CH — CH3 + CH3COOH CH3COOCH (CH3)2

KINETICS OF THE REACTION

CH3-CH2=CH2 + H2SO4 CH3-CH (HSO4)-CH

CH3-CH (HSO4)-CH + CH3-COOH CH3-COO-CH (CH3) 2 + H2SO4

CONDITIONS:

Temperature 70 —130 oC
Pressure 100 —180 Psi
Yield (on reacted Propylene) 96%

DESCRIPTION

 Acetic acid which we are using here has water molecules with it which
will be released to the system by a side reaction and produce acetic acid
anhydride.

 So acetic acid having small amounts of water and propylene having

impurities which are starting materials are preferably fed into a fixed
bed catalytic reactor in which an acidic ion exchange resin is packed as
a catalyst.

 The molar ratio of acetic acid to propylene is preferably within range of

from 1.0 to 2.0

 The pressure may be advantageously sufficient so that all the

components of the reaction mass are maintained in liquid form during
reaction

 The mechanical pressure applied, then, being greater than the vapor
pressure of the mixture.

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CHAPTER 1 MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

 Isopropyl acetate is formed by 1st reacting Propylene with ion exchanger

resin (Diphonix Resin Polymer) to form an intermediate addition
compound and then latter with aliphatic acid, i.e., Acetic Acid.

 By operating in such manner polymerization and charring of organic

reactants are said to be largely avoided but a mixture of Isopropyl
acetate and Isopropyl alcohol are formed.

 The crude reaction mixture or reactor product is usually fed in a

pressurized state into a flash tank and then de-pressurized back to
atmospheric pressure.

 In flash tank the liquid and gas phase get separated from each other.

 The gas phase discharged from the top side primarily contains propylene
and inert gases such as methane, propane and CO 2 etc which are
disposed of as WASTE GASES.

 The liquid from bottom containing Isopropyl acetate, Isopropyl ether,

Acetic acid, sec-butyl acetate is mixed in the tank and the mixture is
continuously charged into the Distillation column.

 The purpose of Storage tank is to control the flow rate for the
distillation column.

 From distillation column the desired purity of product is obtained and

rest of Acetic Acid is recycled back to the reactor.

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