นายศุภวิชญ์ ศรีโภคา 61070500073

Assignment 9: Petrochemicals
1. Why do we use alkene (double bonds) for petrochemicals? Why not the triple bonds?
• In some reactions, alkynes are less reactive than alkenes. For example, in a molecule
with an -ene and an -yne group, addition occurs preferentially at the -ene.
• Triple bonds are stronger than the equivalent single bonds or double bonds.
2. Find the conceptual processes for polyethylene production by using ethanol as a raw material
and explain the production step by step.
• Dehydration of ethanol using a catalyst and fluid bed reactor.
1. Selecting a catalyst. AlO3 can be utilized as an initial catalyst after production by
the aluminium extractor. A base wash with KOH or NaOH can be used to increase
the specificity of catalyst. Improvements to the catalyst can be incrementally made
as OSE technology becomes available. The current proposal calls for a AlO3 doped
with TiO2, a demonstrated highly efficient and selective catalyst.
2. Constructing a reactor chamber capable of mixing the catalyst and substrates under
optimal conditions. The reactor chamber must allow control over temperature, pressure,
addition and removal of catalyst, control of federate and interaction time of substrate,
and separation of production and should incorporate features that allow easy
reconfiguration and recycling of catalysts, solvents, and unconverted substrate.
3. A three phase temperature (50, 0, -70 °C) fractionation condenser will be used to remove
byproducts, unreacted substrate, and inert gas, producing high purity ethylene suitable
for polymerization.
4. Methods for measurement of ethylene yield and purity must be further investigated
(maybe using spectroscopic methods).
 นายศุภวิชญ์ ศรีโภคา 61070500073

• Polymerization of polyethylene from ethylene using Ziegler-Natta catalyst and

fluid bed reactor.
1. Selection of a components of catalyst for polymerization: triethylalumina, Ti/Mg Cl,
electron donating solvent.
2. Optimal configuration of reactor for polyethylene polymerization.
3. Measurement of PE yield and purity.
4. Ability to pass newly formed polyethylene to an extruder or storing as pellets for future
extrusion.
5. Investigate production of other polymers such as polyethylene vinyl acetate
(for greenhouse materials).
• Extrusion to final product
1. Identify most desirable products for OSE product ecology and research optimal extrusion
processes. Materials for greenhouses or windows are a high priority as mentioned
by Marcin and this application could be the first aim. Identify ways to maximize
translucence, increase UV resistance and filtering, and maximize material use
with strength and durability (film versus panels).
2. Value adding processes such as tensile polymer incorporation or shaping into useful
products.
• Production of ethanol on-site from sorghum utilizing yeast fermentation.
1. Selection of yeast and/or bacterial strains that are optimal for sorghum fermentation
and finding their optimal conditions.
2. Construction of fermentation equipment.
3. Construction of distillation equipment capable of operating under vacuum, which could
possibly be attached to fermentation chamber.
 นายศุภวิชญ์ ศรีโภคา 61070500073

4. Method for measuring alcohol purity. Measuring specific gravity is means of getting
a rough estimating ethanol yield and with internal improvements can achieve higher
accuracy. Measurements against as internal standard and a pure ethanol standard can
improve hydrometers accuracy.