Synthesis Of Propionic Acid from Syngas

1. Synthesis Of Propionic Acid from Syngas Sabah Basrawi, Alex Guerrero, Mrunal Patel, Kevin Thompson University of Illinois at Chicago Process Description Process Flow Diagram Design Basis Our group has designed a chemical plant for the production of Propionic Acid with a process known as carbonylation in the presence of a Rhodium catalyst to produce Propionaldehyde. The Propionaldehyde will then be oxidized using a Cobalt Halide and air to produce Propionic Acid at mild temps. • 33,000 tons/year • Inlet feeds of Syngas taken from Team Foxtrot and ethylene taken from Lyondellbasell Motivation We use relatively cheap reactants to produce a product that is of higher market value. With the amount that we are producing we would be a major component of the world market for propionic acid. Economics • NPV: $154 Million • IRR: 27% • Total Yearly Cost: $45 Million • Total Yearly Profit: $59.4 Million • Break-Even Point: ~4.1 Years Plant Layout Process Floor Plan Uses of Propionic Acid • Mold inhibitor for various animal feed • Preservative in cheeses and baked goods to prevent mold • Precursor in many industrial processes • Pharmaceuticals • Plastics • Plasticizers • Textile and rubber auxiliaries • Dye intermediates • Flavorantsand cosmetics. • Plant to be located in Morris, IL just north of Lyondellbasell • Just southeast of Team Foxtrot’s Syngas plant • Adjacent to two railroads lines for feed and product transport • Near Interstate 80 for freight transfer References "Acetic Acid Production." Acetic Acid Production. 2009. Web. 22 Jan. 2011. http://www.starcontrols.com/Application/Application_min_e.asp?MinID=34. Boyaval, P., and C. Corre. Production of Propionic Acid. 1995. Print. Perlack, Robert D., Lynn L. Wright, Robin L. Graham, Bryce J. Stokes, and Donald C. Erbach. Biomass as a Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply. Print. Registration Review Document for Propionic Acid and Salts. Mar. 2008. Print. Spivey, James J., Makarand R. Gogate, Ben W. Jang, Eric D. Middlemas, Joseph R. Zoeller, Gerald N. Choi, and Samuel S. Tam. Synthesis of Acrylates and Methacrylates from Coal-Derived Syngas. 1997. Print. Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge our professor Dr. Perl, and our client mentor Shannon Brown, to thank them for all their help.