FPG

Oleochemicals
Category:
FPG Utility Plant
Originator:
Faudzi Abd Rahman

Date Approved:
15/2/2008

Subcategory:
Glycerin Acidulation pH Optimization-Validation
Report
Owning Area:
Technical Standard #:
Refined Glycerin
U001/08

OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this Experimental Order is to increase Dowtherm Header
Process Control Strategy . This will also reduce the amount of salt generation in
crude glycerin. This is a concurrence type validation.
CONCLUSION:
From the EO, it is concluded that the acidulation pH can be increased up to 3 in
order to produce refined glycerin that is able to meet the specification as per
GCAS #95897935. At acidulation pH higher than 3, there is possibility that
Fatty Acid & Ester in refined glycerin is not able to meet the specification of
0.3% Max.
FINDINGS & OBSERVATIONS:
Based on the observation during the whole period of EO from July 23 2007 until
December 6 2007, few observations were made as below:

At acidulation pH of 3 there is reduction in HCL index and NaOH

consumption. At the same time NaCl content in crude Glycerin reduce to
around 2.8%. No issue observed on crude glycerin and refined glycerin
quality.
At acidulation pH of 3.5 and 4.0, there is quality issue on high Fatty Acid
& Ester carry over in RG distillate at Glycerin Still. FA&E content was
higher than the maximum limit of 0.35. Quality summary of Glycerin
Still distillate when acidulation pH at 3.5 and 4.0 as per attachment:

Glycerin Still Quality

Summary

Therefore the acidulation pH can only be increased up to 3. The crude glycerin

and refined glycerin quality summary during the EO period is attached below:

Crude Glycerin
Quality

RECOMMENDATION:

Refined Glycerin
Quality(Still)

Therefore it is recommended that that acidulation pH to be controlled between

0.5 and 3.0.Other operating parameters for Crude Glycerin recovery system is
as per table 1.
Table 1
Location

Critical Parameters

Range

Target

Glycerin Reactor

Acidulation Feed Temperature

pH into reactor
Acidulation Interface Level
pH of Neutralized Glycerin

80 max
0.5 3.0
40-80
5.0 7.0

< 80
2.5
75
5.3

Glycerin Evaporation

Feed Tank Level

Evaporator Pot Level
Evaporator Pressure
Pot Temperature
Crude Glycerin pH

110 - 410
40 - 60
70
98 - 103
5-7

405
50
70
100
6

Glycerin Hotwell

Hotwell pH
Hotwell level

6 - 10
40 - 60

7
50

ATTACHMENT:

EO Protocol

SIGNATURES:
By signing below, we indicate that the Validation Report is sufficient to revise
the Process Control Strategy (Glycerin / Utilities) FPG-II-022.

Role
Originator

Name
Mohd Faudzi Abd
Rahman

Signature

Date

Mohd Faudzi Abd Rahman

14/1/2008

Validation System
Owner

Mohd Fairuz Azli B

Sulong

Fairuz

Operation Manager

Azahari Bin Din

Azahari

QA Manager

Hasni B Hj Ahmad

Hasni

10/2/2008

13/2/2008

15/2/2008