Using Process Simulation to Estimate the Economics of Scaling up Experimental Results to an Industrial Scale

Crude glycerin is obtained as a side product from the production of biodiesel.  In its crude form, the glycerin has limited economic value.  However, C3 compounds such as acrylic acid, acrolein, and hydroxyacetone which are traditionally derived from propylene can be produced from this crude glycerin.  The purpose of this research is to determine if this glycerin dehydration process could be utilized on an industrial scale by using process simulation such as Aspen Plus.  Results obtained from bench scale reaction experiments that convert glycerin into these chemical products will be integrated into Aspen which will in turn simulate this process on an industrial scale to see if this is an economically favorable process.  This research has involved construction of a bench scale packed bed reactor, calibration of a gas chromatograph to analyze the results, and statistical design of experiments to optimize the process.