Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO MALEIC ANHYDRIDE

INTRODUCTION TO MALEIC ANHYDRIDE

1.1 INTRODUCTION
Maleic Anhydride is a highly versatile chemical essential to the production of a multitude
of products. Each molecule contains two acid carbonyl groups and a double bond in the position.

Mainly, they are formed by the oxidation of butane in the presence of catalyst VPO by an
exothermic reaction.

C4H10 + 3.5 O2 C4H2O3 + 4 H2O

∆H = -1236 kJ/mol (--295.4 kcal/mol)

Other names for maleic anhydride are 2, 5-furandione, dihydro-2, 5-dioxofuran, toxilic
anhydride, or cis-butenedioic anhydride. Maleic acid is also called (Z)-2-butenedioic acid, toxilic
acid, malenic acid, malenic acid, or cis-1, 2-ethylene dicarboxylic acid.

1.2 HISTORY

Maleic anhydride was first synthesized in the 1830’s, but was not manufactured
commercially until about 1930. Prior to 1930, MA was formed only in small quantities as a by-
product of the phthalic anhydride process. The advent of patents for the catalytic oxidation of
benzene coupled with improvements in the vanadium oxide catalysts was integral to the creation
of a commercially viable process for MA. Today, nearly three billion pounds of MA are made
each year throughout the world using variations of this process.

Initially, maleic anhydride was produced by the partial oxidation of benzene using a
vanadium oxide catalyst. In brief, the process involves the oxidation of a low concentration of

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Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO MALEIC ANHYDRIDE

benzene in air followed by a separation step to recover the MA from the reactor effluent.
Because benzene is a hazardous chemical strictly regulated by the EPA and OSHA, efforts to
find a suitable replacement have been pursued. Over the years, both n-butane and butylene have
been utilized with increasingly successful results and are gradually overtaking benzene as the
reactant of choice.

1.3 WORLD WIDE CONSUMPTION OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE

The chart given below shows the world wide usage of maleic anhydride in 2000. It is clear
from the fig. 1 that maleic anhydride is most widely using in Asia and America.

North America

South &
Central
America
Western
Europe

Eastern Europe

Asia

Africa

Figure 1 World consumption of Maleic Anhydride-2000

1.4 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MA

Some general properties of MA are given in table 1.

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Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO MALEIC ANHYDRIDE

Table 1 Physical Properties of MA

Physical form Molten liquid Color Water white

Odor Strong irritating acrid Odor threshold 0.5ppm

odor

Specific gravity Molten: 1.3 at 70◦C Vapor pressure .2mmHg at 25◦C

(water=1.0); Solid: 1.48
at 20◦C (water=1.0)

Vapor density 3.38 (air= 1.0) Melting point 52.5◦C (126.5◦F)

Melting point 202◦C (395◦F) Solubility in water Very soluble

(140mg/100ml)

Ph 2.42 (.01 M solution) Solubility in other Chloroform, acetone,

solvent ethyl acetate, benzene,
hydrocarbons, dioxane.

Flash point 102◦C (215◦F) PMCC Flammable limits LFL:1.4% UFL:7.1%

Auto ignition 477◦C (890◦F) Thermal decomposition >150◦C

temperature temperature

1.5 USES OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE

In Pakistan, it is most widely using in the production of unsaturated polyester resin that
further has many advantages. Fig. 2 briefly shows the uses of MA.

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Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO MALEIC ANHYDRIDE

Figure 2 Uses of maleic anhydride

1.6 PROPERTIES OF UPR MANUFACTURED FROM MA

The properties of unsaturated polyester resin that is manufactured from maleic anhydride are
following:

1. It is having low cost.

2. It has good external durability.

3. It is having excellent mechanical properties.

4. It has versatility in its uses.

Uptil now, there is no plant of maleic anhydride in Pakistan so due to its large requirement, it is
imported from abroad,

1.7 IMPORTS IN PAKISTAN

The import data that is taken from SMEDA can be seen in table 2.

Table 2 Import data of MA from SMEDA

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Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO MALEIC ANHYDRIDE

year 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008

Import
5463 9,112 14, 820
( tons/yr)