The production of epichlorohydrin from glycerol

van der Heide, Ruurd (2018) The production of epichlorohydrin from glycerol. Integration Project, Industrial Engineering and Management.

Preview	Text Final glycerol to epichlorohydrin RvdH.pdf Download (2MB) | Preview
	Text Toestemming.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (94kB)

Abstract

To optimize the competitiveness of bio-diesel with traditional diesel, by-products in the production process like glycerol can be sold or have to find a value adding purpose. This research investigates whether it is techno-economically feasible to make green epichlorohydrin (ECH) from glycerol. The conditions temperature, pressure and yield of catalyst are taken into account to find the optimal production process of epichlorohydrin from glycerol. The most investigated synthetic methodology involves a two-step process, using hydrochloric acid to make a dichlorohydrin intermediate followed by a base catalyzed ring closure to ECH. Hexanoic acid is chosen as optimal catalyst for the hydrochlorination process over acetic acid since yields are similar but separation of the hexanoic acid catalyst is less complicated. This research discusses pressure as well as temperature in the hydrochlorination process; conclusions were that 383K and 670kPa were optimal for hydrochlorination using hexanoic acid as catalyst. The dehydrochlorination of the dichlorohydrin is traditionally done by adding sodium hydroxide operated at 363 K and 30kPa, this research includes this method as well as a solid Mg-Al oxide. Eventually, a cost estimation is made using literature research resulting in a profitable plant for the location Delfzijl.

Item Type:	Thesis (Integration Project)
Supervisor name:	Heeres, H.J.
Degree programme:	Industrial Engineering and Management
Thesis type:	Integration Project
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	30 Jun 2018
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2018 06:57
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/17521

Actions (login required)

View Item