Design, economic evaluation and plantwide control of glycerol ketalization plant

Preocupərile privind valorificarea glicerinei brute în produse cu valoare The chemical transformation of glycerol into more economic valuable products receives increased interest during the recent years. The literature review reveals experimental studies concerning hydrogenolysis, acetalization, ketalization, estherification or etherification of glycerol, with emphasis on new catalysts and optimal reaction conditions. The design, economic evaluation and plantwide control the entire chemical plant is missing. This article fills this gap by presenting the design a glycerol ketalization plant, using acetone as co-reactant. The main product is solketal, an oxygenated (bio)diesel additive which reduces particulate emissions and improves the cold flow properties. Economic evaluation lead to a Total Annual Cost of 478-103 US$ / year, for a throughput of 3720 tonnes/year solketal. A plantwide control structure is suggested and evaluated by rigorous dynamic simulation. Aspen Plus and Aspen Plus Dynamics are used as efficient CAPE tools.