ECONOMIC COMPARISON BETWEEN THE SEPARATION OF PROPANE/PROPYLENE MIXTURE USING DISTILLATION AND CHEMICAL ABSORPTION TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Propylene is one of the most important petrochemicals nowadays, as it is used in the synthesis of many petrochemicals. Propane/propylene separation is known to be energy intensive distillations. Thus, existence of another less energy consuming technique is crucial. This thesis study the chemical absorption technique for this separation and compare it economically to the distillation technique. The used medium was room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) with silver tetrafluoroborate (AgBF4). Absorption is performed in a packed bed absorber while solvent regeneration is performed using a flash separator. Design of the absorption system was performed on similar conditions of an industrial distillation case. The total cost of the absorption process was found to be lower than distillation but with low pressure polymer grade propylene. The suggested absorption system could be used to produce high purity propylene to be used in processes require low pressure propylene. Thus, the absorption will be economically attractive.