Acrylic Acid Final Report

1.0

INTRODUCTION

Acrylic acid’s chemical nature makes it a highly desirable component in a polymer  system. Besides Besides polymer applications, the molecule also follows the characteristics characteristics of both a carboxylic carboxylic acid and acrylate ester, making making it suitable for chemical intermediates intermediates as well. The largest application for acrylic acid is in the industrial coatings area. And, because it is miscible with water, alcohols, and ethers, the wetting ability can be enhanced based on the specific employment. employment. An area of growth for acrylic acid is with acrylic acid homo-polymers and acrylic acid/starch grafts. These combinations proide a high rate of absorption, perfect for use in hygiene products. !ther minor uses include iscosity modifiers for rubber lattices and adhesies, detergents, fiber si"ing, and soil conditioner. Acrylic acid is formed by the following reaction# $%&' ( ).* !+

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$omplicating matters are two competing side reactions# $%&' ( +.* !+

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$%&' ( .* !+

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The first competing reaction forms acetic acid, which is a marketable commodity. The second competing reaction simply forms completely useless products. The specifications to meet for the production of acrylic acid were# eedstock# ropylene roduct spec# . wt0 minimum &as to consider competing side reactions inside the reactor  roduct capacity# *1,111 2TA • • • •

2.0

CHEMICAL PR PROCESS SE SELECTION

3election )# 2anufacture of Acrylic Acid by 3ingle-step $atalytic ropylene !xidation. 43elected for 35 in the case study6 The first process inoles direct catalytic oxidation of propylene to acrylic acid in a single stage operation which comprises passing a starting reactant gas mixture containing propylene, compres compressed sed air 4compres 4compressor6 sor6 and steam steam 4mixer6 4mixer6 through through in a single single reactor reactor 4lug flow reactor6. The reactor effluent is sent to a separation unit 4separator6 in which all light gases are separated as apor in top stream. Bottom stream that contains mixture of li7uid mainly water, acetic acid and acrylic acid are distilled to produce purified acrylic acid 4distillation column6. 3election +# 2anufacture of Acrylic Acid by Two-step $atalytic ropylene !xidation. Another process inoles producing acrylic acid from propylene through acrolein as an intermediate by catalytic apor phase oxidation, which comprises passing a starting reactant gas mixture containing propylene, compressed compressed air 4compressor6 4compressor6 and steam 4mixer6 through a first-stage reactor packed with a molybdenum-containing multi-component catalyst 4plug 1

flow reactor6, passing the resulting acrolein containing gas through a second-stage reactor   packed with a multi-component catalyst containing anadium and molybdenum 4plug flow reactor6. The resulting acrylic acid-containing gas is separated 4separator6, and absorbed in water 4absorber6. A part of the exhaust gas is incorporated in the starting reactant gas mixture 4recycle6. 3.0

DESIGN METHOD

3oftware 8sed# 8ni3im 3oftware 42odular Based 2ethod6 Unit Operation $ompressor 49-)116

2ixer 42:;-)116 &eater 4-)116 5istillation column 4T-)116

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Fn!tion To compress air from atmospheric pressure and increase the temperature. To mix propylene, compressed air and steam. To heat incoming mixture to re7uired temperature for reaction to be occurred. !xidation of propylene to final desired  product acrylic acid, acetic acid as by product. To separate gases and li7uid components in reactor effluent. To produce purified distillation column after   gases and li7uid components are separated.

SIMULATION OF PSD

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