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Che 531 Assignment - Project Scope.
Che 531 Assignment - Project Scope.
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2.1 IDENTIFICATION
COMMERCIAL PRODUCT NAME: Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol, Spirit, Alcohol)
FORM: Liquid
COLOUR: Colourless
ODOR: Characteristic
2.4.3 INGESTION
Intoxicating if ingested. (If ingested in undiluted form, it has a severe drying
effect on mucous membranes of mouth and throat.) NEVER MAKE AN UNCONSCIOUS
PERSON VOMIT OR DRINK FLUIDS.
Wash out mouth thoroughly, and give plenty of water to drink.
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Do not induce vomiting. Get medical attention immediately.
2.4.4 INHALATION
Occupational exposure limits (8-hour reference period) 1000 ppm (1900 mg/m³). Intoxicating if
continuously inhaled for a long period of time. Move the person to fresh air, immediately
perform artificial respiration if breathing has stopped. When breathing is difficult, properly-
trained personnel may administer oxygen. Keep the person warm and at rest. Get medical
attention promptly.
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4) Sewers designed to preclude formation of explosive concentrations of vapor may be
permitted.
5) Absorb small quantities with paper towels and evaporate in safe place (fume hood).
6) Allow sufficient time for vapours to completely clear the hood ducts, then burn the paper in a
7) location away from combustible materials.
8) Collect for reclamation or absorb in vermiculite, dry sand or similar material.
9) Clean-up personnel should use respiratory and/or liquid-contact protection.
10) Provide ventilation and confine spill.
11) Do not allow runoff to sewer.
2.7.1 VENTILATION
Store in a well-ventilated area.
2.7.2 RESPIRATORS
No specific recommendation made, but respiratory protection must be used if the general
level
exceeds the Occupational Exposure Level (OEL).
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2.7.3 PROTECTIVE GLOVES
Use protective gloves made of butyl rubber.
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(such as: Perchlorates, CrO3, halogen oxides, peroxy compounds, perchloric acid, non-metallic
oxides, nitric acid, KMnO4, salts of halogen, oxyacids), halogen-halogen compounds, alkali
oxides, non-metallic halides, anhydrides/sodium acetate/acids, ethylene oxide, fluorine, hydrides,
mercury compounds, silver compounds, chromyl chloride, UF6; capable of exploding with air in
a vaporous/gaseous state.
HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION: Will not polymerize.
MATERIALS TO AVOID: Strong oxidizing agents.
HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS: Vapours/gases/fumes of:
Carbon monoxide (CO).
Carbon dioxide (CO2).
Ethanol is biodegradable and has not been shown to interfere in any way with waste water
treatment plants. In high concentrations it harms fish and plankton. 9,000 mg/l kills fish in
24 hours; threshold for deleterious effects in small crustaceans (Daphnia): upwards of
7,800 mg/l. Toxic threshold concentration: Pseudomonas putida upwards of 6,500 mg/l,
Scenedesmus quadricauda upwards of 5,000 mg/l, Microsystis aeruginosa upwards of
1,450 mg/l. Fish toxicity: LC50>10,000 mg/l.
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2.12 DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS
It may run into process drains if greatly diluted with water. It may be removed to open
atmosphere for dispellation of vapours. May absorb in vermiculite or dry sand, and then dispose
in licensed special waste site. Dispose of in accordance with Local Authority requirements.
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S-16 Keep away from sources of ignition - No Smoking.
UK REGULATORY REFERENCES:
Highly Flammable Liquid Regulations 1972.
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988.
EC DIRECTIVES:
Substances Directive 67/548/EEC as amended by 69/81/EEC, 709/189/EEC,
73/146/EEC, 75/409/EEC, 79/831/EEC General Preparations Directive 88/379/EEC.
European Communities (Classification, Packaging, Labelling and Notification of
Dangerous Substances) Regulations 1994. S.I. No. 77 of 1994.
Dangerous Substances (Conveyance of Scheduled Substances by Road) (Trade of
Business) Regulations, 1980. S.I. No. 235 of 1980.
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations, 1994.
S.I. No. 445 of 1994.
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS:
The Health and Safety at Work, etc., Act 1974.
C.H.I.P. 2 Regulations.
APPROVED CODE OF PRACTICE: The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.
GUIDANCE NOTES: Occupational Exposure Limits EH40.
INFORMATION SOURCES:
Dangerous Properties of Industrial Chemicals, 6. edition, N.Sax, 1984.
Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Sittig, 1985.
Material Safety Data Sheet, Misc. manufacturers.
The Merck Index, 11. edition, 1989.
Chemical Safety Data Guide, Bureau of National Affairs, 1985.
The information contained herein is based on the present state of our knowledge. It characterizes
the product with regard to the appropriate safety precautions. It does not represent a guarantee
of the properties of the product.
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THE COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION, AND ACCEPT
NO
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY PROBLEMS ARISING FROM USING THIS
INFORMATION.
ANYONE TAKING THIS INFORMATION TO PRODUCE A MATERIAL SAFETY
DATA SHEET,
SHOULD OBTAIN INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OF INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN,
PRIOR TO PUBLICATION.
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3. DESIGN SCOPE FOR A PROCESS PLANT FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF BIO-ETHANOL
3.1 product
Ethyl Alcohol/Industrial Alcohol/ or Grain Alcohol is a simple alcohol with chemical formula
C2H5OH, Ethanol is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid with the following physical
properties: Boiling point-78.37, Melting point: -114.1°C, Molar mass: 46.07 g/mol, Density:
789kg/m^3.
3.2 product quantity
The plant is to produce one hundred thousand barrels per year (100 000 BPY) i.e. close to three
hundred barrels per day (300 BPD) of ethanol. And an expansion capacity of one million barrels
per year (1 000 000 BPY) i.e. nearly three thousand barrels per day (3 000 BPD) of ethanol.
3.3 product quality
The product is expected to be of 99% purity, the standard for determining other qualities of the
primary product-ethanol to be produced in the plant will be based on California denatured
ethanol standards.
3.4 Co-Products
Both the wet and dry mill processes for production of bio-ethanol utilize only the starch portion
of the grain for ethanol production. The remaining protein, fat, fiber and other nutritional
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components remain available for use as animal food. Examples of several different types of
animal feed co-product produced at ethanol production facilities:
Table 2 Typical Animal Food Co-Products from the U.S. Grain Ethanol Industry.
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purity requirements for carbon dioxide for food applications. The following are proposed carbon dioxide
quality parameters and criteria for the plant.
Carbon Dioxide
Quality Parameter Limit Method
Parameter Criteria Standard
1 Purity v/v% > 99.9% ISBT 2.0
2 Water v/v% < 20 ppm ISBT 3.0
3 Oxygen v/v% < 30 ppm ISBT 4.0
4 Carbon Monoxide v/v% < 10 ppm ISBT 5.0
5 Ammonia v/v% < 2.5 ppm ISBT 6.0
6 Nitrogen Monoxide (NO) v/v% < 2.5 ppm ISBT 7.0
7 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) v/v% < 2.5 ppm ISBT 7.1
8 Non-volatile Residue w/w% < 10 ppm ISBT 8.0
9 Total Hydrocarbons (THC) v/v% < 50 ppm ISBT 10.0, 10.1
1 Odor, Taste No foreign odor or taste ISBT 16.0
0
11 Appearance in Water No color or turbidity ISBT 16.0
(reference 3)
3.6 Storage requirement for the product
U.S National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) classifies ethanol as a Class IB flammable
liquid. Handle and store ethanol with great care. Ethanol usage as a biofuel additive for fuel has
rapidly grown since the early 2000s. Trains continuously transport large volumes of it across the
U.S and in some other countries of the world. Some of the biggest safety and environmental
incidents involving ethanol have occurred on the railways, according to the Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection. Other notable incidents include explosions and fires at
distilleries in their storage facilities. Unlike oil fires, ethanol fires do not produce thick black
smoke. Firefighters call them “invisible fires.” The heat zone reaches far beyond the visible
flames. These fires are very difficult to extinguish. In derailment incidents, they are generally
allowed to burn out.
(reference 3)
(reference 4)
3.7 Fuel storage and dispensing
Given the potentially serious problems ethanol-blended gasoline can cause in our equipment, it’s
important to follow best-practice storage and dispensing guidelines to minimize the chance of
these issues. Fuel storage containers will be kept in a cool, dry place to limit temperature changes
that affect fuel life. If fuel cannot be drained from equipment fuel tanks, they would be kept full
to reduce the air space over the fuel. This is extremely important, in particular, when working in
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a high moisture environment. For fuel storage, most large gasoline storage tanks are vented to
the atmosphere, exposing them to water contamination. It only takes a seven-degree change in air
temperature for condensation to form on tank walls. Keeping these tanks full will reduce water
buildup in the fuel by eliminating both available air space and tank wall surface space for
condensation to accumulate.
The closer the storage area is to an occupied building, the more stringent the regulations. For
instance, a 4-hour fire rated building will be used if storing ethanol at a distance of 10 feet or less
from an occupied building. Use of a 2-hour fire rated building when storing anywhere from 10
feet up to 30 feet away. Climate control systems regulate the temperature within the specific
range required for ethanol and prevent the buildup of excessive condensation. Exhaust fans
remove flammable vapors.
Automatic dry chemical or water sprinkler fire suppression systems limit the spread of fires. This
is vital since the fuel must burn out in ethanol fires. All electrical equipment included in the
ethanol storage building is intrinsically safe to prevent sparks.se non fire-rated chemical storage
buildings when located 30 feet or more away from an occupied building included in ethanol
storage buildings is intrinsically safe to prevent sparks
(reference 4)
(reference 5)
The preferred tanks for product storage are ISO Tank Containers, known as ISOtainers.
ISOtainers are multimodal containers used for ethanol storage and the storage of other bulk
liquids. They are internationally approved, and meet global safety standards.
These bulk storage containers have the capacity to carry over 26 000 litres of liquid which has
significant advantages over traditional 44 gallon drums or IBCs (Immediate Bulk Containers)
which requires substantial manpower to unload, fill, seal and load for transportation and,
depending on the liquid being stored, are often single use. ISOtainers are built to last and have an
estimated lifespan of 20 – 30 years. This means that they can be reused numerous times to store
bulk liquids such as ethanol which reduces costly environmental packaging waste.
These bulk liquid storage containers are stackable and with maximizing space, time and budget
being a priority.
Over and above ethanol and liquid waste storage, ISOtainers are configurable and can be built to
safely carry a huge variety of loads, such as: alcoholic beverages, food products, hydrogen
peroxide, mining chemicals, nitric acid, oils, resins, solvents, sulphuric acid and more for the
purpose of storing other products.
Background information:
The ISO Tank Container, also known as portable tank, tank container, ISOtainer, tanktainer, bulk
storage container, or intermodal tank, are used for the storage and transportation of hazardous
and non-hazardous chemicals, foodstuffs, and liquefied gases. An ISOtainer is a cylindrical
vessel, made of 316 grade stainless steel, with a maximum carbon content of 0.03%. It has a cold
rolled shell 2B finish, with a 4.3mm thickness (+0.22 mm corrosion allowance).
(reference 5 end)
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3.8 Hours of operation
The Process is designed using conventional technology and the hours of operation will be during
7200 hours in a year.
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COMPLETION DATE
The project’s completion date is proposed to be after 3 years of writing the project scope –
October 2023
Safety
Some materials and equipment provided for safety includes a fire hydrant, a fire station, fire
walls, a sprinkler system e.t.c
• Storage facilities are at least 500m form processing equipment
• hazard sheets.
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