Module 3 : Petrochemicals
Lecture 18 : Isopropanol and Acetone from Propylene
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18.1 Introduction
• In this lecture we study the process technology associated to the manufacture of
isopropanol and acetone.
• Isopropanol is manufactured from hydration of propylene.
• Acetone is produced using the dehydrogenation route of isopropanol.
• We first present the isopropanol process technology.
18.2 Isopropanol manufacture
18.2.1 Reaction
Sulfation: CH3CHCH2+ H2SO4→(CH3 )2 CH(OSO3H) (Isopropyl acid sulphate).
Hydrolysis: Isopropyl sulphate +H2O→ Isopropanol + Sulfuric acid.
Thus sulphuric acid is regenerated in the process.
Side reaction: Disiopropyl sulphate + H2O→ Diisopropyl ether + Sulfuric acid.
Therefore, the primary reaction is a gas liquid reaction in which propylene is absorbed into a
tray tower fed with sulphuric acid.
Operating conditions: Room temperature but 20 – 25 atms pressure.
Reaction is highly exothermic.
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