Commodity Production Costs Report
Acetic Anhydride Production from Acetic Acid
Acetic Anhydride Operating Costs & Plant Construction Costs
This report presents the economics of Acetic Anhydride production from acetic acid in the United States via a ketene process. In the process, acetic acid is first dehydrated to ketene using triethylphosphate as catalyst in a cracking furnace. Ketene reacts with acetic acid in a series of scrubbers, producing Acetic Anhydride.
The report provides a comprehensive study of Acetic Anhydride production and related Acetic Anhydride production cost, covering three key aspects: a complete description of the Acetic Anhydride production process examined; an in-depth analysis of the related Acetic Anhydride plant capital cost (Capex); and an evaluation of the respective Acetic Anhydride plant operating costs (Opex).
The Acetic Anhydride production process description includes a block flow diagram (BFD), an overview of the industrial site installations, detailing both the process unit and the necessary infrastructure, process consumption figures and comprehensive process flow diagrams (PFD). The Acetic Anhydride plant capital cost analysis breaks down the Capex by plant cost (i.e., ISBL, OSBL and Contingency); owner's cost; working capital; and costs incurred during industrial plant commissioning and start-up. The Acetic Anhydride plant operating costs analysis covers operating expenses, including variable costs like raw materials and utilities, and fixed costs such as maintenance, labor, and depreciation.
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The process under analysis comprises four major sections: (1) Acetic Acid Pyrolysis; (2) Ketene Absorption; (3) Purification; and (4) Acetic Acid Recovery.
Acetic Acid Pyrolysis. Initially, part of the fresh glacial acetic acid is mixed with recycled acetic acid, vaporized and mixed with triethylphosphate catalyst. The mixture is fed into a multitubular furnace where the acetic acid is cracked to ketene and water at temperatures of about 750 °C and pressures of about 0.25 bar. The reaction effluent receives an injection of ammonia in order to neutralize the catalyst, preventing the ketene from reacting with the water or with the unconverted acetic acid.
Ketene Absorption. The outlet gas from the pyrolysis is cooled down to about 0 °C in such a way that an aqueous solution of acetic acid is condensed and separated from the ketene gas. The ketene gas is then absorbed by the countercurrent contact with glacial acetic acid in a series of two absorbers. The Crude Acetic Anhydride obtained is sent to the purification section. The off-gas from the second absorber is sent to two scrubbers operated in series, in order to recover the acetic acid entrained by these gases. The recovered aqueous acetic acid solution is sent to the acetic acid recovery section.
Purification. The purification area is composed of three distillation columns. The light-ends column removes the volatile liquids and a small part of acetic acid, which are recycled to the absorption section. In the acetic acid separation column, glacial acetic acid is obtained and recycled to the pyrolysis. Finally, heavy-ends are separated in the acetic anhydride purification column and Acetic Anhydride with a purity of 99 wt.% is obtained and directed to storage facilities located outside battery limits.
Acetic Acid Recovery. In this section, acetic acid is dehydrated and purified for its reuse along the process. Water is removed by azeotropic distillation using n-butyl acetate as the entrainer. Subsequently, glacial acetic acid is obtained after removal of heavy impurities by means of distillation and recycled to the pyrolysis section.
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Professional report based on Q3 2024 economic data, ensuring timely evaluations.
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Content Highlights
Plant Capital Cost Summary
Summary outlining the capital cost required for building the Acetic Anhydride production plant examined.
Plant Capital Cost Details
Detailing of fixed capital (ISBL, OSBL & Owner’s Cost), working capital and additional capital requirements.
Plant Cost Breakdowns
Breakdown of Acetic Anhydride process unit (ISBL) costs and infrastructure (OSBL) costs; plant cost breakdown per discipline.
Operating Costs Summary
Summary presenting the operating variable costs and the total operating cost of the Acetic Anhydride production plant studied.
Operating Cost Details
Detailing of utilities costs, operating fixed costs and depreciation.
Plant Capacity Assessment
Comparative analysis of capital investment and operating costs for different Acetic Anhydride plant capacities.
Production Process Information
Block Flow Diagram, descriptions of process unit (ISBL) and site infrastructure (OSBL).
Process Consumptions
Raw materials and utilities consumption figures, by-products credits, labor requirements
Process Diagrams
Process flow diagrams (PFD), equipment list and industrial site configuration
Other Acetic Anhydride Production Cost Reports

Acetic Anhydride Production from Acetic Acid and Acetone
This feasibility study reviews the Acetic Anhydride production from acetone and acetic acid. Initially, acetone is converted to ketene via pyrolysis. Then, the ketene is absorbed in acetic acid to produce acetic anhydride. The economic analysis presented assumes a plant located in the United States.
Details: 120 kta United States-based plant | Q3 2024 | 107 pages | Issue B | From $1,199 USD
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