'J time that the problem has appeared in this century. In every previous case the synthetic fuels industry was foredoomed by a cheaper alternative energy base. In its examination, the ESCOE group encountered the matter of evaluating processes on the basis of dollars per Btu. This is a useful ap proach, it noted, for a single-product plant, such as SNG for pipeline use. However, this approach is very un satisfactory and unrealistic when a variable product slate issues from the plant. The ESCOE group noted that even with federal price controls, gas oline has a wholesale price higher than that of home heating oil, which, in turn, has a wholesale price higher than that of fuel oil. A fixed price per Btu of heating value would invert the price ranking of these three fuels on a volumetric basis, since heating oils have a higher heating value per gallon than does gasoline. The conclusion of the study was that any analytical method that does not account for inherent differences in market value and in market pref erences is not fruitful. The ESCOE group, therefore, developed a product value index for estimating product prices. This approach has consider able value in estimating synfuels po tential, although the confidence level may not be so high as would be de sirable. The 14 processes to which these evaluation techniques were applied are either already commercial or are
well along in R&D. The processes are not merely combinations of other processes but are distinct, recogniz able processes. Other criteria for the synfuel process evaluation are the process complexity, which is some what empirical and takes into account both physical complexity of the hardware and the complexity of the reaction system, and the process ef ficiency, which is defined as the higher heating value of the products divided by the energy input. The 14 processes evaluated by the ESCOE group show about the same cost trends as observed in other evaluations. However, there is a con siderable difference in the projected absolute costs when compared to many of the other evaluations. There are also some unique features of nonoil resources that eventually may break the pattern of the "receding break-even point." The conventional wisdom—that the cheapest thing to do with coal is to burn it, and that as long as gases and liquids from coal are merely substi tutes for less expensive oil products, oil will drive the energy economy— seems irrefutable. However, burning coal doesn't necessarily generate the most profit, nor is the simple substi tution of coal products for oil prod ucts necessarily the most desirable way to design a synfuels industry. The coal refinery of the future will have its own unique product slate, probably resembling only vaguely that of today's oil refinery. Π
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H 3 C'
four new starting materials for chiral synthesis Interesting new, optically active lactic acid and lactate esters now available. The syn thesis routes with retention or inversion of configuration for preparation of biologically active enantiomers. S S S S
( + ) Lactic acid ( - ) ethyl lactate ( — ) isopropyl lactate ( — ) methyl lactate
• Natural, sugar-derived substances • Minimum isomer purity-98% • Biologically twice as active optically as DL lactic acid
((0 Offered by the worlds largest producer of lactic acid, C.V. Chemie Combinatie Amsterdam CCA. Gorinchem, Holland. Repre sented exclusively in the U.S.A. by...
PPG modernizes chlorine-caustic facilities With expansion of its chlorine-caustic facilities at Lake Charles, La., completed about a year ago—bringing total capacity at the site to 3000 tons per day of chlorine and 3400 tons per day of caustic soda—PPG Industries now is modernizing some of its older units. New giant chlorine cells (above) are replacing outmoded diaphragm cells. The new units, PPG says, will reduce the amount of energy required to produce chlorine and caustic soda about 25%. The updated facilities are designed to use some of the hydrogen produced to power the cells. PPG expects to complete its modernization in 1983.
Pettibone World Trade Pettibone-Chicago, Inc. 435 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60611 U3A
Phone: 312/944-0777 Twx: 910-221-2896 Cable: Pettim Chicago CIRCLE 89 ON READER SERVICE CARD July 27, 1981 C&EN
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