Project Synopsis
Provide process engineering assistance to determine the optimum processing parameters for the neutralization of a chemical mixture.
Project Summary
NEUTRALIZATION AND DISTILLATION SYSTEMS SIMULATION AND EVALUATION
Process Engineering Associates, LLC (PROCESS) was contracted by the client, a major U.S. processor of used solvents, to determine optimum operating parameters for the neutralization of a mixture of ethylenediamine-hydrochloride and methanol, followed by a batchwise distillation of the resulting mixture. As a part of this project, the following tasks were accomplished:
- Estimated the temperature rise during the neutralization from the exothermic heat of reaction
- Determined the purities that could be achieved for the distillate and bottoms streams, considering the capabilities of the existing distillation column, reboiler, and condenser
- Developed an operating strategy for the batch distillation that would yield the desired purities of products in the shortest amount of time.
PROCESS utilized its licensed commercial simulation software to simulate the performance of the batch distillation system using the new operating parameters. PROCESS then supplied the client with a letter report that summarized the results of the simulation and recommended preliminary operating parameters.
Industry Type
- Spent Solvent Recycling
Utilized Skills
- Process optimization