Propylene Oxide production by the ARCO Hydroperoxidation process

1. Propylene Oxide production by the ARCO Hydroperoxidation process Group # 4 Ahmed Reda Abbas Mohammed Al-Hasawi Faisal Juhail Abdulaziz Al-Saaran

2. Outline • Introduction. • Physical and chemical properties of propylene oxide • Uses of propylene oxide • Toxicity and Hazard • Raw material • Process of Production of propylene oxide • Alternative processes • Transportation

3. Introduction • propylene oxideis a highly reactive chemical used as an intermediate for the production of numerous commercial materials. It reacts readily with compounds containing active hydrogen atoms, such as alcohols, amines, and acids. Therefore, propylene oxide is used worldwide to produce such versatile products as: • Polyether polyols (poly glycol ethers). • Propylene glycols. • Propylene alcohol.

4. Introduction • Other products made using propylene oxide are: • Flame retardants • Modified carbohydrates (starches) • Synthetic lubricants • Oil field drilling chemicals • Textile surfactants

5. Physical and chemical properties of propylene oxide • Physical Properties: Propylene oxide is a colorless, highly volatile liquid at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure. • Chemical Properties: Propylene oxide is a chemical compound that contains hydrocarbons and oxygen. Propylene oxide liquid is highly flammable and the vapor forms an explosive mixture with air. Propylene oxide may polymerize violently. It is very reactive, particularly with chlorine, ammonia, strong oxidizing agents, and acids.

6. Uses of propylene oxide • Propylene oxide is a useful chemical intermediate. Additionally, it can be used for etherification of wood, purification of mixtures of organosilicon compounds, and disinfection of crude oil and petroleum products.

7. Toxicity and Hazard • Flammability Hazards: Propylene Oxide, a colorless highly volatile liquid with a sweet etheral odour, is extremely flammable with a flashpoint of -37°C and a wide explosive range of 1,7-37 Vol% in air. • Reactivity Hazards: Bases, acids or metal halides can cause violent polymerization. Propylene Oxide is presumed to be able to form peroxides and thus to polymerize and reacts violently with oxydants.

8. Toxicity and Hazard • Inhalation: Propylene Oxide is classified as harmful by inhalation and irritating to the respiratory system and exposure to Propylene Oxide at several hundred ppm may result in headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, chest discomfort and cough. • Skin contact: Propylene Oxide is classified as harmful and irritating after contact with skin. • Eye contact: Propylene Oxide is classified as irritating to the eyes, high vapor concentrations may cause eye irritation, while liquid will produce corneal burns with permanent impairment of vision possible.

9. Raw materials • Propylene: Also known by its IUPAC name propene, is an organic compound having the chemical formula C3H6, propylene is a gas, It is colorless and highly flammable, It is found in coal gas and can be synthesized by cracking petroleum.

10. Raw materials • Oxygen: At normal temperature (0 °C) and pressure (1 atm = 101.325 KPa) the oxygen molecule is a tasteless, colorless, and odorless gas of density 1.429 kg/m³. Its boiling point and freezing point at normal pressure are 90.188 K, and 54.361 K.

11. Raw materials • Isobutane: Isobutane, also known as methylpropane or 2-methylpropane, is an alkane,It is used as a feedstock in the petrochemical industry, for example in the synthesis of isooctane.

12. Process of Production of propylene oxide • Hydroperoxide Process: The first step of the process is the liquid-phase air oxidation of isobutane to tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). The tert-butyl hydro peroxide is then mixed with a catalyst solution to react with propylene to produce propylene oxide.

13. Process of Production of propylene oxide

14. Alternative processes • Chlorohydrin Process: Propylene gas and chlorine gas in about equimolar amounts are mixed with an excess of water to generate propylene chlorohydrins and a small amount of chlorinated organic co products, then Epoxidation is accomplished by treatment of the chlorohydrins solution with caustic soda or milk of lime to produce propylene oxide.

15. Alternative processes

16. Alternative processes • Steps of Chlorohydrin Process:

17. Alternative processes • Ethyl benzene Hydroperoxide Process: Theproduction of propylene oxide and styrene via the use of ethyl benzene hydroperoxide (EBHP), liquid phase oxidation of ethyl benzene with air or oxygen, then EBHP is mixed with a catalyst solution and fed to a horizontal reactor where propylene is introduced to produce propylene oxide.

18. Alternative processes

19. Alternative processes • Steps of Ethyl benzene Process:

20. Transportation • Routing: Propylene Oxide should only be transported on defined routes. The route to be followed must be selected carefully and should be known to both the carrier and the consignor. The route should: • A. utilize motorways, • B. avoids areas of high population density

21. Transportation • Transport of Propylene Oxide by Sea: Transport of Propylene Oxide by sea may be either: • a. by roll on/roll off ferries. • b. lift on/lift off shipment in tank containers. • c. bulk by seagoing vessels.

22. Storage and Materials of Construction • Storage should be in steel or stainless steel vessels, which it is storing highly flammable liquids, with a pressure relief valve to protect the tank against overpressure.

23. Conclusion • we conclude that propylene oxide is very useful product which is used in many industrial application and we need to produce this product in our country.