Designing a Chemical Plant for Chlorobenzene Production

This project focuses on the technical and economic aspects of setting up a chemical plant for chlorobenzene production. It involves evaluating separation techniques, heat transfer methods, and process optimization to ensure efficient and sustainable production.

Introduction
It is a complex venture that needs careful consideration of technical, economic, and process
optimisation issues in order to set up a chemical plant that generates dichlorobenzenes (DCB)
and monochlorobenzene (MCB) by direct chlorination of benzene. Technical and process
economic assessment provides the foundation for this project by exploring alternative pathways.
Methods such as heat transmission and heat exchanger installation, as well as the technical
selection of columns, are used in this evaluation. As part of this process, you'll evaluate the
technical and financial viability of the complete production technique (Sinnoth 2014). Careful
consideration of these criteria is essential when selecting columns for the separation and
purification of chlorobenzenes. Packaging material, column type, and operation circumstances
are only few of the factors that need to be considered when deciding on a suitable column. Our
study's primary objective is to find a way to efficiently separate monochlorobenzene and
dichlorobenzene while minimising the formation of harmful byproducts. An integral part of this
endeavour is the development of process equipment design. Distillation columns, compressors,
reactors, and any other apparatus required for the chemistry process fall within the purview of
this assignment. Dimensions, construction materials, and process integration are three of the
most crucial aspects of every piece of machinery.
Heat transfer and heat exchangers are crucial for sustaining the set operating temperature and
ensuring the quality of the final product. The technique calls for carefully controlled cooling and
heating in order to improve the effectiveness of the separation as well as the reaction rates. When
constructing heat exchangers and other similar pieces of equipment, it is very necessary to
provide accurate temperature management while simultaneously reducing the amount of energy
that is used (Gavin at el 2008).
Background
Chlorobenzenes are a designated category of organic molecules distinguished by the presence of
chlorine atoms bonded to a benzene ring. These chemicals are utilised as intermediates in the
manufacturing of an extensive array of other chemical products, demonstrating their extreme
versatility. For example, monochlorobenzene (MCB) serves as a fundamental component in the
synthesis of numerous chemicals, including aniline, which finds application in the formulation of

rubber compounds, pharmaceuticals, and colures. Furthermore, MCB exhibits its versatility by
serving as a crucial precursor in the manufacturing of in-demand goods, in addition to its
valuable application as a solvent (Serth at el 2014).
Dichlorobenzenes (DCB), an additional category of chlorobenzenes, consist of isomers, of which
the para-isomer proves to be especially advantageous in the context of herbicide and pesticide
production. These compounds exhibit their versatility in the electronics industry, where they are
employed as solvents and intermediates in the synthesis of specialised chemicals. This
demonstrates the broad scope of their practical uses. This directly contributes to the importance
of chlorobenzenes in numerous industries, thereby emphasising their significance in the chemical
landscape (Uwe at el 2010).
Problem statement
A multitude of intricate challenges and objectives must be fulfilled to ensure the successful
development of a chlorobenzene production facility. Within this context, "meeting specific
production targets" signifies dealing with "technical intricacies in the chlorination process,"
"optimising separation and purification methods" signifies "ensuring safety and environmental
compliance," and water "maintaining economic viability" signifies "exhibiting market
flexibility." The completion of these aims will constitute a comprehensive evaluation of the
project's effectiveness. By doing so, a chlorobenzene manufacturing facility will be established
that operates efficiently, system atically, and in adherence to rigorous quality standards, all the
while remaining flexible enough to accommodate changing market dynamics.
Objectives
The primary purpose is to construct a manufacturing facility that has the capacity to generate
20,000 metric tonnes per year of monochlorobenzene (also known as MCB) and at least 2,000
metric tonnes per year of dichlorobenzenes (also known as DCB). Both of these chemicals are
used in the manufacture of dichlorobenzenes. The major goal of the project is to either match or
exceed the production levels that were planned.
 It is necessary to make certain that chlorobenzenes are produced with a high level of both
purity and quality which is essential.

 choosing appropriate catalysts, reactor layouts, and reaction conditions in order to
maximise product yields and quality while simultaneously reducing the development of
unwanted by-products is a critical step in any chemical reaction.
 Include the selection of effective distillation columns and purification processes in order
to separate MCB and DCB from the mixture produced by the reaction.
 during this design phase, an effort be made to reduce the production of unwanted by-
products as much as possible, as well as to optimise resource utilisation, reduce
operational costs, and guarantee that the plant's operation would be financially
sustainable.
 A primary focus should be on maximising the plant's operational efficiency in terms of
things like uptime and energy consumption. Both the effectiveness in terms of cost and
the accomplishment of production goals are contributed to by operations that run
efficiently.
Significance of project
The relevance of this project can be broken down into several categories:
The project tackles the growing demand for monochlorobenzene and dichlorobenzenes, assuring
a consistent supply of these essential chemical intermediates for a variety of sectors. This has an
impact on the chemical industry.
Environmental Sustainability: The project is in compliance with contemporary environmental
and regulatory standards since it incorporates sustainable practises and minimises waste
production. This results in a smaller overall environmental imprint for the chemical sector.
Innovation in Chemical Engineering: The project exemplifies innovative design in chemical
engineering and serves as an example of this type of innovation, which has the potential to
inspire similar initiatives for other chemical processes and move the field of chemical
engineering forward.
The project brings economic benefits to the region, including efficient production, enhanced
resource utilisation, and cost-effective design, all of which contribute to the region's economic
prosperity.This project's objective is to create a comprehensive design for a chlorobenzene
production plant that takes into account all relevant factors, including those pertaining to the

economy, the environment, and the technology. It is anticipated that it will make a significant
contribution to the chemical industry, environmental sustainability, innovation in chemical
engineering, and the economic development of the surrounding region, all while fulfilling the
production targets that have been defined.
References
Uwe Beck and Eckhard Loser, (2010) Chlorinated Benzenes and other Nucleus-Chlorinated
Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Vol. 8, pp. 488-
491.
Gavin Towler Ray Sinnott (2008) Principles, Practice and Economics of Plant and Process
Design, ISBN 13: 978-0-7506-8423-1
Sinnott, R.A.Y., 2014. Chemical engineering design (Vol. 6). Elsevier.
Serth, R.W. and Lestina, T., 2014. Process heat transfer: Principles, applications and rules of
thumb. Academic press.