Boost in Maleic Anhydride Yield Using new Scientific Design reaction system for maleic anhydride production, Reichhold plans to double output to about five million pounds per year A
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Vs Cl A w a t e r - c o o l e d s c r a p e r condenser cools t h e v a p o r b e l o w t h e sublimation p o i n t , d r o p s t h e c r y s t a l l i z e d product into d r u m s . P r o d u c t i o n c a p a c i t y is in excess of a ton p e r d a y . T a n k a n d r e c e i v e r vent lines* sampling hoods, and drumming station h o o d a r e v e n t e d t h r o u g h a continuous c a u s t i c s c r u b b e r . P r o d u c t loss, corrosion, a n d d a n g e r from toxicity w o u l d result from system leaks. Main p r o d u c t i o n p r o b l e m is k e e p i n g the system tight. C y a n u r i c c h l o r i d e is an i n t e r m e d i a t e for t r i e t h y l e n e m e l a m i n e , a c o m p o u n d w h i c h h a s b e c o m e w e l l established as a d r u g for t r e a t m e n t of leulcemias a n d lymphomas. It h a s effected 1007c c u r e s o n c e r t a i n t y p e s of r a t cancers, t h e first t i m e a c h e m i c a l has s h o w n 1 0 0 % efficiency a g a i n s t anixnal c a n c e r . Clear, heat-stable plastics can b e m a d e from triallyl c y a n u r a b e , p r e p a r e d b y a l l o w i n g c y a n u r i c c h l o r i d e to r e a c t w i t h allyl alcohol. T A C c a n b& p o l y m e r i z e d b y itself, or c o p o l y m e r i z e d w i t h s t y r e n e , methacrylat«es, u n s a t u r a t e d a l k y d s . It also h a s p r o m i s e for u s e a s a n a n t i c o n v u l s a n t , insecticide, plasticizer. C o p o l y m e r s w r t h a m a l e i c a l k y d h a v e y i e l d e d resins w i t h excellent p r o p e r t i e s at t e m p e r a t u r e s to 500° F . C y a n u r i c c h l o r i d e is now used as a n i n t e r m e d i a t e in p r o d u c t i o n of d y e s , optical bleaches, pharmaceuticals, and h a s p o t e n t i a l for m o t h p r o o f i n g c o m p o sitions, s u r f a c t a n t s , explosives. The u n i q u e t r i a z i n e r i n g may encourage n e w a p p r o a c h e s t o m a n y o^ther c h e m i cal fields. VOLUME
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NO.
8 •
M O D I F I E D R E A C T I O N s y s t e m for
the
-**- p r o d u c t i o n of m a l e i c a n h y d r i d e b y Reichhold has been completed. Cond u c t e d b y Scientific D e s i g n , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t p r o g r a m h a s led t o a p r o c e s s w h i c h , a c c o r d i n g t o R e i c h h o l d a n d Scientific D e s i g n , r e s u l t s in s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n c r e a s e d yields. T h e r e v a m p e d p r o c ess, w h i c h u s e s a n e w c a t a l y s t , is in operation at Reichhold's Elizabeth, N . J., p l a n t . B a s e d on t h i s p r o c e s s , Reichhold plans to expand the plant, m o r e t h a n d o u b l i n g its c a p a c i t y , t o a b o u t five m i l l i o n p o u n d s p e r y e a r . In t h e process used by Reichhold, b e n z e n e is o x i d i z e d in a fixed-bed r e a c tor. T h e resulting maleic anhydride v a p o r is s c r u b b e d w i t h w a t e r to r e m o v e m a l e i c a n h y d r i d e from t h e g a s ; a n d t h e s o l u t i o n is d e h y d r a t e d u n d e r s p e c i a l conditions. T h e crude maleic anhyd r i d e is purified b y f u r t h e r distillation, and then processed b y a pelleting mac h i n e . R e i c h h o l d is t h e first m a n u f a c t u r e r of m a l e i c a n h y d r i d e in p e l l e t form. M a l e i c a n h y d r i d e is u s e d in t h e m a n u f a c t u r e of a l k y d resins, p o l y e s t e r resins, f u n g i c i d e s , plasticizers, and numerous specialty chemicals. Scientific D e s i g n will u s e t h e s a m e
reactor design a n d t h e same catalyst as in u s e a t R e i c h h o l d ' s p l a n t in a maleic anhydride plant near Paris w h i c h t h e y will e n g i n e e r for t h e F r e n c h firm, Campagnie Francaise des M a t i e r e s C o l o r a n t e s , a s u b s i d i a r y of K u h l m a n n . T h e p l a n t will b e t h e sixth in w h i c h Scientific D e s i g n h a s t r a n s f e r r e d p r o c e s s d a t a from o n e s i d e of t h e A t l a n t i c to t h e o t h e r . Scientific Design has arranged with the F r e n c h firm to m a k e a v a i l a b l e i m p r o v e m e n t s d e v e l o p e d in t h e i r p l a n t to o t h e r licensees of S D in this field. Scientific D e sign says t h i s is t o a s s u r e a c o n t i n u i n g a n d fruitful i n t e r n a t i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t in t h e m a n u f a c t u r e of m a l e i c a n h y dride. T h e Reichhold process and t h e process p l a n n e d for t h e F r e n c h p l a n t a r e a l i k e in t h a t b o t h r e p r e s e n t t h e b e s t balance between, performance a n d capit a l i n v e s t m e n t for p l a n t s of t h e i r si/.e, says Scientific D e s i g n . The central p r o b l e m in t h e R e i c h h o l d p r o j e c t w a s t h a t t h e p r o c e s s h a d b e e n in o p e r a t i o n for s e v e n y e a r s a n d r e p r e s e n t e d a c o n s i d e r a b l e i n v e s t m e n t in c a p i t a l e q u i p ment. Modifications w e r e t h u s m a d e within the existing physical structure.
Scientific Design's team, Alfred Saffer, research director; Robert Egbert, vice president in charge of engineering; and Mitchell Becker, group leader, look over plans for maleic anhydride production at Reichhold's Elizabeth, N. J., plant. I n developing t h e n e w modified reaction system, the Scientific Design team worked in close cooperation with t h e staff of Reichhold, including S. H. Baum, vice president; J. D . D'Angelo, plant m a n a g e r ; and Dexter Stud well, superintendent of t h e maleic anhydride plant
• FEBRUARY
2 1,
1955
799
