Abstract
The purpose of this research is to demonstrate through a techno-economic assessment that aniline can be industrially produced using a profitable and inherently safer process than the ones currently employed. The aniline production process was designed using process simulation software. From this, the mass and energy balances were determined, the equipment sizing was performed and the net present value (NPV) was calculated to be USD 93.5 million. Additionally, a heat integration analysis was carried out in order to improve process profitability, obtaining a new NPV of USD 97.5 million. The economic sensitivity analysis showed that the process could withstand fixed capital investment changes of up to +89%, weighted average cost of capital changes between 16–24% and a decrease in cyclohexylamine demand of up to 44%. The conceptual design is still profitable when aniline price is varied in a range of 1224–1840 $/t and phenol cost in a range of 815–1178 $/t.
Highlights
Aniline is a highly versatile chemical used as a starting raw material to synthesize textile dyes such as indigo and induline, as well as several pharmaceutical drugs such as acetaminophen, sulfadiazine and sulfapyridine (Lamture, 2018)
Given that the nitration of benzene and the Halcon synthesis route – two of the most commonly used aniline production processes – require severe operating conditions, and that the design of a process employing a safer reaction mechanism remains unexplored, we report a novel and profitable aniline manufacturing process via the amination of phenol using an alternative preexisting synthesis route
Simulation results revealed that the designed aniline production process is technically and economically feasible with a net present value (NPV) of USD 97.5 million
Summary
Aniline is a highly versatile chemical used as a starting raw material to synthesize textile dyes such as indigo and induline, as well as several pharmaceutical drugs such as acetaminophen, sulfadiazine and sulfapyridine (Lamture, 2018). Increasing the aniline supply represents a potential risk since the synthesis route currently used by 85% (Wang et al, 2019) of the aniline production companies worldwide (nitration of benzene) is highly hazardous, as it involves the use of strong acids in high concentrations, such as sulfuric acid and nitric acid, and the production of unstable and explosive byproducts such as dinitrophenol, picric acid, dinitrobenzene and nitrobenzene (Badeen et al, 2011; Cuypers et al, 2018; Kletz, 2009; Trebilcock and Dharmavaram, 2013). The most prominent ones occurred in USA (1960) and China (2005), where a total of 22 people died and 368 were seriously injured (Lodal, 2004; Schiermeier, 2005)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
