PROJECT PROPOSAL

PROCESS DESIGN AND ENGINEERING

FOR
SETTING UP OF MANUFACTURING FACILITY FOR SODIUM BOROHYDRITE -SBH IN
INDIA

1. Introduction
Sodium borohydride, also known as sodium tetrahydridoborate and sodium
tetrahydroborate, is an inorganic compound with the formula N aBH4 . This white solid,
usually encountered as a powder, is a reducing agent that finds application in chemistry,
both in the laboratory and on an industrial scale. The compound is soluble in alcohols,
certain ethers, and water, although it slowly hydrolyzes. It also reacts with these protic
solvents to produce H2 ; however, these reactions are fairly slow. It decomposes in neutral
or acidic aqueous solutions but is stable at pH 14. Sodium borohydride (N aBH4 ) is a
versatile reducing agent used in a number of industrial processes. Major applications
include organic and pharmaceutical synthesis, wastewater treatment, and paper pulp
bleaching. Additionally, N aBH4 can be used to store and generate hydrogen gas via a
hydrolysis reaction. It is estimated that in order for sodium borohydride to be widely utilized
as an energy storage medium in a hydrogen economy, the cost must be reduced by at least
an order of magnitude from its present price. The manufacturing process of N aBH4 has
largely remained the same since it became commercial in the 1950s and is based on
synthetic pathways developed by Brown and Schlesinger.
This proposal is prepared as per the requirements of KCC INFRA PRIVATE
LIMITED(KCCIPL),C-20/A, AMBABARI,JAIPUR-302023, RAJASTHAN, INDIA.

2. Scope of work
The work will be carried out in two phases. The scope of work for Phase I is discussed
below. The scope of work of Phase II will be discussed after the completion of Phase I.

2.1. Phase I
• Technologies/processes available for manufacturing of SBH-SWOT analysis of
available technology
– Available processes for the production of the product with brief description
– Techno-economic appraisal of alternative processes/schemes
– Status of technologies/schemes available
– Selection of technology/scheme: Basis of selection, details of the selected
process including flow sheet
– Source of knowhow of selected process/technology
• Selection and identification of most reliable,efficient and safe method for SBH with
consistently high purity
• Sizing plant and system for manufacturing of 200 to 500 MTs Per Annum(TPA)
• Design and sizing of storatge and handling facilities for raw materials intermeadiate
products and final products etc.
– Detailed specifications

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 – Requirement of raw materials and basic assumptions made in computing the raw
material requirement
– Availability: indigenous/imported
– Government policies for import of the raw materials
– Testing procedures for the raw materials (as per BIS, ASTM, DIN, ISO standards,
if any)
• Standard operating procedure for the facility
• Study of patents/IPs and patentable process
• Note on availability of raw material in india
• Recommendation on most suitable geography/location of the plant
– Critical points are taken into consideration, e.g. Union/ State Governments
policies for promoting industries in no industry district, subsidy, transport,
availability of raw materials, and market accessibility.
– A plot layout of works, showing location of the main plant, provision for future
expansion, space for providing utilities in future, administrative block, staff
facilities, storage area, hazardous area, car and tanker parking, fire, pump
house, hydrant network, roads, green belts etc
• Estimation and costing - process and ancillary equipment and system
– Total project cost including fixed capital, working capital requirements, preliminary
and pre-operative expenses. The breakup of the capital cost in Rupees
– Detailed statement indicating the cost of production covering various elements of
cost Cash flow chart
– Break-even point with detailed calculation and graphical representation
– Full justification of the selling price taken in the preparation of cash flow
– Implementation schedule
• Market Prospects
– A brief analysis of demand and supply of the product of the past 5 years and next
five years
– Present production capacity/licenced capacity in the country giving the status of
the production
– Export potential (if any)
– Marketing set-up and area of consumption

2.2. Charges/Fee for Phase I

To carry out the above study as per Phase I, IIT Roorkee shall charge in advance Rs.xxxxx
Lakhs which includes GST, and payable to Dean, Sponsored Research Industrial
Consultancy, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee through online transfer.

2.3. Time Frame for Phase I

3. Investigator Team IIT Roorkee
• Principal Investigator (PI): Prof. Anshu Anand, Professor, Department of Chemical
Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee - 247667, Uttarakhand,
India.

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• Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) Investigator (PI): Prof. B. Prasad, Professor,
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee,
Roorkee - 247667, Uttarakhand, India.
• Student Member: Praveen Dubey, Research Scholar, Department of Chemical
Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee - 247667, Uttarakhand,
India.
• Student Member: Rishabh Didel, Research Scholar, Department of Chemical
Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee - 247667, Uttarakhand,
India