UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN KIMIA

PROCESS SIMULATION LABORATORY
(CPE613)

PROJECT TITLE
GROUP MEMBERS &
STUDENT I.D

GROUP
SUBMIT TO

No.
1
2
3
4

: PRODUCTION OF PROPYLENE GLYCOL

: NUR IZZATI BINTI AHMAD TARHIZI (2014233914)
: MUHAMMAD IZWADI BIN ZAILAN (2014850608)
: NUR ADLINA BINTI AZIZAN (2014235886)
: NIK MUHAMMAD IZZAT BIN NIK ABDULLAH (2014605282)
: EH2205A
: MDM NORASMAH BINTI MOHAMMED MANSHOR

Title
Procedure
Process Flow Diagram (PFD)
Workbook
Questions & Discussions
TOTAL MARKS

Allocated Marks (%)

Marks

20
20
20
40
100

Remarks:
Checked by:

Rechecked by:

------------------------------(NORASMAH MOHAMMED MANSHOR)

Date:

----------------------------------(
)
Date:

PFD

Propylene glycol (C3H8O2) is a very common organic compound that is used in many
applications. It is used as an oil dispersant, a solvent in pharmaceuticals, an antifreeze,
and as a moisturizer, and any other applications. It is produced via the hydrolysis of
propylene oxide which is usually accelerated by acid or base catalysis.
Simulate the propylene glycol production process, including the reaction and separation
processes. Assume a propylene oxide feed stream of 3952 kg/h and a water feed stream
of 4990 kg/h. Both streams have temperature of 25 oC and pressure of 1 bar. The goal is
to produce a final product containing 99.5% propylene glycol. Assume a CSTR with a
volume of 8,000 L and liquid volume of 85%. The outlet temperature of CSTR is 60 oC.
The simplified reaction kinetics are shown below.
C3H6O + H2O C3H8O2

kJ
kgmole
)
RT

75362
k f =( 1.7 1013 h r 1 ) exp (

A distillation column is designed that is capable of producing a product with 99.5% purity.

Questions
1. What is the conversion of propylene glycol after reaction in CSTR?
The conversion of propylene glycol after reaction in CSTR is 23.27%. This
conversion indicate that low composition of propylene glycol would be produced at
the product stream.
2. How you design the distillation column in order to obtain the final product
with 99.5% purity? Explain specification of the distillation column and
assumption made.
In order to obtain the final product with 99.5% purity, the distillation column is
design as follows:
Specification
Pressure (bar)
Number of trays
Feed Tray*
Reflux ratio
Component
Fraction
*Count from the top

1
10
5
1.00
0.995
of DC

Assumption :
1) Used total condenser for the distillation column
3. What is the mole fraction for each component at the bottom and distillate of
distillation column?
The mole fraction for each component at the bottom and distillate of distillation
column are as follows:

Water
Propylene Glycol
Propylene Oxide

Distillate
0.9834
0.0000
0.0166

Bottom
0.0050
0.9950
0.0000

4. Compare your result by using other fluid package.

The result is compared by using the other fluid package which is Wilson. All the
values are only having slightly different. The conversion of propylene glycol after
reaction in CSTR for the fluid package of Wilson is also the same as UNIQUAC
which is 23.27%. The mole fraction for each component at the bottom and distillate
of distillation column for Wilson are as follows:

Water
Propylene Glycol
Propylene Oxide

Distillate
0.9827
0.0007
0.0166

Bottom
0.0050
0.9950
0.0000