Page 34 - The engineering of chemical reactions

18 Introduction

(a) methanol from methane;
(b) acetic acid from methane;
(c) formaldehyde from methane;
(d) cumene from benzene and propane;
(e) acetone and phenol from cumene;
(f) ethylene from ethane;
(g) ethylene glycol from ethane;
(h) benzene from cyclohexane; .
(i) PET from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid;
(j) PET from ethane and xylenes;
(k) polystyrene from ethylene and benzene.

What must be the cost per pound of manufacturing each of these chemicals if we need to make
a profit ot 10% of sales, and all processes have 80% yield?

1.10 Most chemical processes involve multiple stages. What must be the relative costs of each stage
for the following processes assuming the prices in the table?
(a) ethane to ethylene glycol;
(b) acetone and phenol from cyclohexane and propane;
(c) caprolactam from benzene and methane (to produce ammonia);
(d) acetic acid from methane.
Note that the prices of chemical intermediates are in fact determined by the costs of the individual
prices.
1.11 Shown in Figure l-l are formulas of some organic chemicals that are produced by the chemical
and pharmaceutical industries. Some of these are molecules that you eat or use every day and
some of these you really do not want to be near. From your previous courses in organic chemistry
and biochemistry and by discussing with fellow students, name the compounds.
1. sucrose
2. glucose
3. fructose
4. fat
5. soap
6. detergent
7. vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
8. 2,4,5-T (Agent Orange)
9. dioxin
10. DDT
11. ibuprofen
12. aspirin
13. Tylenol (acetaminophen)
14. Contac (phenylpropanolamine)
15. Valium (diazepam)
16. amphetamine
17 methamphetamine