PRODUCTION OF

PARA-XYLENE
BFD of PARA-XYLENE PRODUCTION
BEFORE MODIFICATION
BFD of PARA-XYLENE PRODUCTION
AFTER MODIFICATION
E-FACTOR BEFORE PROPOSED POLLUTION
CONTROL METHODS

Type of effluent Amount (kg/day)

Flare (consists of 21% CO2 and 73% N2) 52,792.42
Wastewater 48,869.40
Distillation purge (Secondary grade 3,990.15
toluene)
Total 105,651.97

Product produced per day = 305,027.06 kg/day

E factor = 105,651.97 kg of waste per day / 305,027.06 kg of product per day

= 0.35
 RECYCLE OF EFFLUENT AND WASTE
 An amount of distillation purge is released by the distillation column, contains toluene,
water and para-xylene.
 This distillation purge will be treated as wastewater before releasing to the environment.
 However, improvement can be made by storing the distillation purge in a storage tank and
selling it as secondary grade toluene to other chemical industries.
 The main chemical use of toluene is to make benzene and xylenes using a number of
technologies
 SECONDARY GRADE TOLUENE
 The demand of secondary grade toluene is high points out that West Europe is the largest
user of toluene which 30% is using in HAD process, 30% is using in STDP and TDP plants, and
the remaining demand including solvent and gasoline blending is about 25%.
 In fact, out of 58% of toluene (1.38 million tonnes) were converted to benzene and xylenes
in 2007.
 Making it the largest end use followed by toluene trans-alkylation process, STDP, HAD, and
TDP plants in Asia.
 Therefore, the effluent stream of distillation purge can be stored and sold to these
chemical plants to be recycled into other products, which will not only reduced the
wastage of chemicals but also give extra profit to the para-xylene plant and reduce
wastewater treatment fees.
 SECONDARY GRADE TOLUENE
 The global price of toluene in 2018 is between $ 80/tonne to $ 673/tonne.
 The global price of toluene is deflected in a wide range due to the deflection in naphtha price,
as naphtha is the raw material in the production of toluene in petrochemical industries.
 Since the effluent flow rate of para-xylene plant is 553,466 kg of toluene/annum, the raw
profit per annum estimated based on the lowest price of toluene is $ 44,000/ annum.
 RECYCLE OF WASTE EMISSION
 In the para-xylene plant, the main gaseous emission that is present is the emission
of the carbon dioxide in the flaring section, where the excess toluene that is
withdrawn is flared to produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide.
 The carbon dioxide produced in the flaring system, is considered high purity carbon
dioxide.
 Therefore, it is suggested that the produced carbon dioxide is captured and stored
using a carbon capture technology.
 This will see to benefit the environment as well as the para-xylene producing plant
as there is a growing demand for carbon dioxide among industries such as the
electronics industry and the food and beverage industry.
 CARBON CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY
 The most commonly employed carbon capture technology for the capture of carbon
dioxide from combustion is the post combustion capture.
 Carbon dioxide can be captured from the exhaust of a combustion process by absorbing it
in a suitable solvent.
 The absorbed carbon dioxide is liberated from the solvent and is compressed for
transportation and storage.
 Carbon dioxide is stored in cylinders as a compressed liquefied gas.
 The absorption liquid is regenerated by increasing its temperature or reducing its pressure
to break the absorbent-carbon dioxide bond.
 High levels of carbon dioxide capture is possible with commercially-available chemical
solvent-based systems.
 The generally used solvent is methanol due to its ease of availability and cheap cost.
 CARBON CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY

 The forecasted price of carbon dioxide in 2020 is expected to be at $25 per ton, and
increases to approximately $53 in 2030 and $120 in 2050, representing a $52 per ton
levelized price over the period 2020‐2050.
 According to the amount of carbon dioxide being produced by the para-xylene plant, 11 100
kg/annum which is 925 kg/day, the expected raw profit per annum for the para-xylene plant
from selling its captured carbon dioxide is $ 15 873 000 per annum and $ 48 100 per day.
 NITROGEN CAPTURING

 Carbon dioxide is collected using post combustion carbon dioxide capturing after the
flaring
 Once nitrogen is separated from carbon dioxide using this techniques, it can be stored in
storage tanks before being sold off
 With gaseous nitrogen storage, there are no hazmat, special handling, safety or insurance
issues
 38 385 kg per day, 12 667 050 kg per annum is being produced as waste
 $ 0.23 per kg Nitrogen gas (www.puritygas.com)
Industrial Uses of Nitrogen

 Packaging in the food industry to prevent oxidation and spoilage of food.

 Used to make transistors, circuits and diodes.
 In the form of nitrous oxide, nitrogen is used in SCUBA gear and in surgery as
an anesthetic.
 In manufacturing steel to prevent oxidation.
 Welding and metalworking to prevent oxides and waste compound formation.
 As a cheaper alternative to argon in light bulb manufacturing.
 Nitrous oxide is used as a propellant in jet fuel, and professional motor
racing.
E-FACTOR AFTER PROPOSED POLLUTION
CONTROL METHODS
Type of effluent Amount (kg/day)
Wastewater 48,869.40
Flare (steam) 3307.10
Total 52 176.50

Product produced per day = 305,027.06 kg/day

Total waste reduced = 53 475.47 kg/day (50% reduced)

New E factor = 52 176.50 kg of waste per day / 320,117.52 kg of product per day
= 0.16
Carbon Capturing & Storage- Costing
Key assumption for costing for post combustion carbon capture system (capture,
storage and transportation) (Carbon Capture & Storage Association, 2019)

Descriptions Remarks
Carbon Dioxide Generated Per Day 11100.32 kg/day
Carbon Dioxide Generated Per Year 3663.11 tonnes/day
Cost Of Post Combustion Carbon $ 39.19 to $ 55.98 per tonnes
Capture System (CCS) Per Tonnes
Total Estimated Cost Per Annum For $ 143 557.11 to $ 205 060.65
CCS System
PROFIT FOR PARA-XYLENE PLANT AFTER
POLLUTION CONTROL METHOD

Waste Produced Profit from Waste Produced

(per annum)
Flare (Carbon Dioxide) $ 15 667 939.35
Flare (Nitrogen) $ 2 913 421.50
Secondary Grade Toluene $ 44 000
Total : $ 18 625 360