Preliminary Design of Chemical Plant of N-Propanol from Ethylene and Syngas with Capacity of 60,000 Ton/year

Abstract

The preliminary design of the n-propanol plant with a capacity of 60,000 tons/year uses ethylene, synthesis gas, and hydrogen as raw materials to produce n-propanol with a purity of 99%. The n-propanol manufacturing process is carried out using the Oxo process using rhodium-silica catalyst in a fixed bed multitube reactor, the reaction takes place in the gas phase at a temperature of 130 °C and a pressure of 20 atm. The location of the plant is planned in Serang, Banten. Economic evaluation shows a return on investment (ROI) of 73.5 % before tax and 55 % after tax, and a Pay Out Time (POT) before tax of 1.2 years. Feasibility analysis shows that this plant is technically and economically feasible. Considering the increasing demand for domestic n-propanol and the potential for reducing dependence on imports, the establishment of an n-propanol plant is considered a strategic step in supporting the Indonesian economy.