STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Journal of Modern Chemistry & Chemical Technology

Comparative Study of Production of Acrylic Acid from Two Different Starting Materials: Propane and Propylene

  1. Arjun Sankar
  2. Edwin Vincent
  3. Maprany Anjana Raphy

Abstract

Acrylic acid is one of the most important raw materials for a number of products. There are several reaction pathways to produce this important commodity chemical. One of the most conventionally used methods involves the manufacture from propylene as the starting material; which is created as a by-product from industrial cracking of heavy hydrocarbons. However more propane reserves are discovered recently which highlights the opportunity to produce acrylic acid from propane. In this work, steady state simulation and optimization of production of acrylic acid from both propylene and propane is investigated. All steady state simulations were carried out using Honeywell Unisim Design suite. Pinch analysis and heat integration were carried out using an open source HEN software HINT. Along with it, the advantages of propane to acrylic acid pathway over propylene to acrylic acid is discussed with simulation and utility data.

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