Ethylene carbonate

Ethylene carbonate

1. Introduction

This report deals with the pre feasibility study for the manufacture of 15000 TPA of ethylene carbonate in India. Chapter 2 describes the executive summary of this project. Literature survey, Process selection and Process description are dealt in chapters 3, 4 and 5 respectively. A detailed site selection procedure is explained in chapter 6. Material and Energy balance calculations are depicted in chapter 7. Chapters 11,13,14 deal with Equipments specification sheets, Process control philosophy and Safety Health and Environmental aspects respectively. Cost estimates and financial analysis for this project are described in chapter 17.

1.1 Introduction of the product

Ethylene carbonate has steadily gained in importance as solvents, extracting agents, auxiliaries and as starting materials for carbamates, alkoxylates and polymers.

1.4 Applications

·         Ethylene glycol carbonate is excellent solvent for natural and synthetic polymers; for example, lignin, polyacrylonitrile, Nylon, PVC, alkyd resin and cellulose ester. This property is put to commercial use in the preparation of spin baths, especially for polyacrylonitrile fibers.

·         Alkylene carbonate also finds use as solvent in chemical reactions, e.g., for epoxidation of ethylene and propylene or in the liquid phase oxidation of alkyl benzenes, as well as polymerization of vinyl esters.

·         Ethylene carbonate is compatible with many plasticizers and can therefore put to use in extrusion.

·         Further more alkylene carbonate can be used to extract alcohols from liquid hydrocarbons and aromatics from aromatic aliphatic hydrocarbon mixture as well as CO₂, H₂S and COS from gases.

·         Residues containing lead from combustion chambers of engines can be removed with ethylene carbonate.

·         Cyclic carbonates find varied uses as auxiliaries. In dyeing, the solubility of dispersion dyes can be significantly improved by the addition of ethylene carbonate. Alkylene carbonates are further suitable as dispersing agent for silicone fats and as stabilizers for lower chlorinated hydrocarbons.

·         Polyacrylonitrile textile can be shrink proof by treatment with solution of ethylene carbonate. Ethylene carbonate can also be used as blowing agent e.g. in manufacture of foam rubber.