UNIVERSIDAD

AUTONOMA DE
CHIHUAHUA
FACULTAD DE
CIENCIAS QUIMICAS

Ethyl Levulinate
Production Process in
Aspen
Economic Analysis in
Aspen Plus
PROCESS SIMULATION

Itzel Espino Favela 311280

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INDEX, TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract................................................................................................................................. 1
1. Introduction................................................................................................................... 1
2. Justification................................................................................................................... 1
3. Process proposal.......................................................................................................... 1
4. Process simulation........................................................................................................1
5. Conclusion................................................................................................................... 11
6. Bibliography.................................................................................................................12

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Abstract

The work deals with optimization of the process of production of Ethyl Levulinate
Production Process. EL is a promising biofuel that can be obtained from
lignocellulosic residues. A byproduct, furfural, can be converted into ethyl levulinate
in an acid-based process. Ethyl levulinate is derived from the esterification of ethanol
with levulinic acid, which is a versatile building block for various chemical
manufacturing. Here is a simulation of the process in Aspen Plus, using extractive,
reactive and distillation columns. Variables change for maximum process
optimization, and results show 10 tons per hour of ethyl levulinate. This study
provides novel optimally designed reactive distillation (RD) processes for the
production of EL, taking into account costs, environmental impact and safety. The
simulation results show that the eco-efficient production of EL is possible in RD
processes with thermal coupling and/or heat integration.

(the empty paragraphs are found in the previous document)

1. Introduction

2. Justification

3. Process proposal

4. Process simulation

The process was simulated by Aspen Plus with NRTL (property estimate model for
simulation) Hayden–O’Connell model.

The NRTL method was used, as this is a highly non-ideal mixture.

To perform the economic analysis, we must introduce certain equipment that we did
not yet have in the process, which are necessary to adapt it.

There are 5 fundamental changes to be made:

1.Reuse of the recovered solvent in the dome of column cdest-1.

We have very good purity in the dome solvent, it joins the fresh solvent stream and is
feed to the extraction column, in order to save the consumption of fresh solvent.

63 000 kg/hr

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 2. Heating from the feed currents and fresh solvent to the entrance of the extraction
column

3. Heating the bottom outlet of column cdest-1, before entering the reactor

161 °C

This is a direct consequence of the recirculation of the solvent to the system for the
use of resources and this causes the temperature to drop and needs to be heated.

4. Heat the ethanol current. Needs to get in at 97°C

5.Most significant change: solvent recirculation increases the production of furfural

and levulinic acid, therefore the production of ethyl levitalinate is effectively
increased.

Figure 1“Global adjustment process.”

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Figure 2 “Solvent results.”

Figure 3 “Furfural results.”

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Figure 4 “ETOH operation conditions.”

Figure 5“Final product results.”

Figure
6“Process Specifications.”

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Figure 7“Heat exchangers.”

Figure 8“Furfural conditions.”

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Figure 9“Ethanol flow change.”

Figure 10“New Reactive Distillation Column Specifications.”

Figure 11“Changes for levulinate.”

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Figure 12“Changes for levunilic acid.”

Figure 13“Raw material costs”

Figure 14“Required services.”

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Figure 15“Utilities.”

These data were obtained considering: The life of the plant was set to a period of 20 years
and the life of the project was considered as 10 years.

Figure 16 “Run summary”

Figure 17 “Executive summary”

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Figure 18 “Cash Flow”

Figure 19 “Project Summary”

Figure 20 “Equipment”

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Figure 21 “Utility summary”

Figure 22 “Utility Resource summary”

Figure 23 “Raw Material Summary”

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Figure 24“Product summary.”

5. Conclusion

In effect, the thermal load in the furfural purification section and also in the reactive
distillation and separation section will increase, as well as the energy requirements,
however, in terms of raw material costs, this process is quite promising.

The process was simulated making it as optimally as possible and thus reached a purity of
the EL of 99.99% which is a high efficiency of the product. The equipment that helped make
the process more efficient was the reactive distillation column since it performs two
operations in one which helps to save time and money.

Este análisis se realizó con el menor costo de levunilato de etilo yesto se puede vender
hasta 200 dólares el kilo, lo que hace que este proyecto sea aún más factible

The optimization of this process was due to the recycling of the equipment outlet
streams, it also helped a lot to obtain a purer product and to save on the solvent
supply due to its recycling.

This analysis was performed with the lowest cost of ethyl levunilate and this can be
sold for up to $ 200/ kg, which makes this project even more feasible

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6. Bibliography
Vazquez-Castillo, J., Contreras-Zarazúa, G.,Segovia-Hernandez, J. (2019).
Optimally designed reactive distillationprocesses for eco-efficient production ofethyl
levulinate. Chem Technol Biotechnol 2019; 94: 2131–2140
Leal-Silva, JP., Pinto, A., Maciel, R,..(2018).
Economicpotentialof2methyltetrahydrofuran(MTHF)andethyllevulinate(EL)producedfr
omhemicelluloses-derivedfurfural. En BiomassandBioenergy(492-502). brazil:
ELSEVIER.
Nhien, LC., Van Duc Lon, N. Lee, M. (2017) Process Design of Hybrid Extraction
and Distillation Processes through a Systematic Solvent Selection for Furfural
Production. Energy Procedia 105 ( 2017 ) 1084 – 1089.

Lange, J. P., van de Graaf, W. D., & Haan, R. J. (2009). Conversion of furfuryl
alcohol into ethyl levulinate using solid acid catalysts. ChemSusChem: Chemistry &
Sustainability Energy & Materials, 2(5), 437-441.

GVR. (Mar, 2016). Ethyl Levulinate Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By
Application (Flavors, Fragrance). 25/11/2020, de Grand View Research, Inc. Sitio
web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/ethyl-levulinate-
market#:~:text=Levulinic%20acid%20used%20for%20producing,under%20OSHA
%2029%20CFR%201910.1200.
ChemIplus by SRC, Inc. (2015). Substance Name: Ethyl levulinate. 25/11/20, de
U.S. National Library of Medicine Sitio web:
https://chem.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/sid/0000539888

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