Selection of Plug Flow Diagram

1) Screening Concept
In concept screening, a selection matrix is prepared by listing a set of criteria
to be used to evaluate the alternatives. Then one alternative is chosen as the
reference alternatives. The screening concept is used to integrate a few of the best
PFR.
Criterion
Rate Production
Cost
Waste produce
Safety
Total Score
Rank

Mercury cell
+
0
-

Diaphragm cell
+
0
+
+

-2
3
3
2
Table 1: The Screening Concept

Membrane cell
0
0
0
+
1
1

2) Scoring Concept
In concept scoring, the same matrix is used, but only on those alternatives
that have survived the concept screening process. It is being used to choose the
best PFR.
Criterion
Rate production
Cost
Waste produce
Safety

Weight
30
40
10
20

Diaphragm cell
4
3
4
3

Total score
rank
Table 1.1: The Scoring Concept

Membrane cell
2
3
2
3

Market survey
Chlorine and sodium hydroxide are large scale commodity chemicals. Caustic soda
commonly sold in both anhydrous form and in solution. It is used through the
chemical industry particularly in neutra lization reaction like in production of soap
and detergent. The main application of sodium hydroxide are oven cleaner,
chemical manufacturing, oil refining, hydraulic fracturing and metal processing.
The majority of sodium hydroxide and chlorine production occurs by electrolysis of
sodium chloride solution using a diaphragm, membrane or mercury cell. The
production of sodium hydroxide by technologies such as electrolysis or oxidation of
hydrogen chloride, as co-product in metal production such as during the electrolytic
decomposition of magnesium and sodium chlorides to produce the metal) and
electrolysis of potassium chloride which uses the same technology but produce
potassium hydroxide as co-product as opposed to sodium hydroxide. Lime soda is
an alternative for sodium carbonate because it depend on the price and availability
of sodium carbonate.

1) Demand NaOH in Malaysia and worldwide.

From the researched that have been conduct by the Suren Uswatta in 2013, it
stated that the national demands for Solid Caustic Soda in year 2010-2012 are 770
Mt. The major supplier in the worldwide is from India which is 75% of the national
demand. Below are the common usages of the NaOH by the worldwide:
1. Soap making
2. Pulp and paper
3. Detergents making
Next, the global production is about 59 million Mt per annum in 2013. USA and
China approximately sharing 50% of the global market (Solventis, 2010).
In Malaysia, the NaOH mostly being used by the industry and for education
purpose. Below are some examples of funtion NaOH in Malaysia:
1. Soap, detergents and surfactants.
2. Tissue digestion of animal bodies.
3. Refining aluminum
4. Dissolving amphoteric metals (Zn and Pb)
5. pH control
6. Water treatment.
7. Gas and oil processing-removing acidic contaminats
8. Off gas scrubbing
Licence/Permit is issued under the Poison Act 1952 by the Pharmacy Enforcement at State level.

Type A Licence: issued to a pharmacist to import, store and deal generally

by wholesale and retail or by wholesale only or by retail only.

Type B Licence: issued to any person whom the Licensing Officer may
consider to be fit and proper person to hold such licence, or issued to a
responsible officer of a company incorporated under the Companies Act 1965 to
import, store and sell by wholesale such poisons (not being a Group A Poison) as
may be specified in such licence.

Type E Licence: issued to any person who in the course of his business uses
Sodium Hydroxide in such substantial quantity that the Licencing Officer deems it
appropriate to issue to him a licence to import, store and use Sodium Hydroxide

Permit to purchase, store and use Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH): issued

to a person who purchase, store and use Sodium Hydroxide for the purpose as
stated in the permit.

2) Price of NaOH in Malaysia.

Type

Range price
Min. order

Import
Within Malaysia
Caustic Soda
Caustic Soda
Caustic Soda
Caustic Soda
Flakes
Liquid
Flakes
Liquid
US $300US $400RM 25/kg
US $400/ton
350/metric ton
450/ton
20-50 metric
20 ton
RM 100 and
ton
above
Table 1.2: Price of NaOH in Malaysia

3) Commersial Technology
Sodium hydroxide and chloride production by electrolysis of sodium chloride
solution. The overall chlor-alkali process may be summarized as:
2NaCl(s) + 2H2O(l)

Cl2(g) + 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)

equation 1

The technologies differ by the method of separating the solution that surrounds the
anode (anolyte) and the solution that surround the cathode (catholyte). [1] The
separation have achieved by diaphraghm cell, mercury cell or membrane cell and
the cathode act as separator by producing a sodium amalgam which is then reacted
with water to produce sodium hydroxide.

Due to environment cooncern and poor economic, these technologies are being
phased out. Increased process efficiency and the requirement to meet more
stringent environmental regulation regulation has led to the increasing dominance
of the more efficient, less hazardous or lower emission membrane-based
technologies.[1]

4) Commercial market review

Sodium hydroxide is mainly used in pulp and paper industry, aluminum and soap
and detergent production. It is also valued for its neutralizing ability and used in
that ability and used in that capacity throughout the chemical industry, controlling
acidity and neutralizing acidic waste discharges. [1] It used as intermediate in many
product such as sodium phenolate used in the production of aspirin amongst other
pharmaceutical.

figure 1: product of sodium hydroxide[1]

figure 2: world consumption of caustic soda[2]

Reference
1. Matthew H. (May, 2012). Chor-Alkali. Chemsystems.
thinking.nexant.com/sites/default/files/report/field_attachment.../2011_7_abs.pdf
2. IHS Markit. (December, 2014). Chlorine/Sodium Hydroxide (Chlor-Alkali). Chemical
Economics Handbook.
https://www.ihs.com/products/chlorine-sodium-chemical-economicshandbook.html