Manufacturing Method of Palm Alcohol
Palm alcohol is an important raw material for the production of chemicals, which is widely used in the fields of cosmetics, food additives, plastics and biodiesel. In this article, we will introduce the manufacturing method of palm alcohol, including its raw materials, process flow, reaction principle, equipment, operation steps, control methods, and possible three-waste treatment and comprehensive utilization.
I. Raw materials
The main raw material of palm alcohol is palm oil, which is the oil extracted from oil palm fruits, and its main component is triglyceride, which contains a large amount of palmitic acid and oleic acid.
2. Process flow
The manufacturing process of palm alcohol mainly includes three steps: ester exchange reaction, distillation separation and refining.
1. Ester exchange reaction: Palm oil is transesterified with methanol to produce methyl palmitate and glycerol.
2. Distillation separation: Methyl palmitate and glycerol are separated by distillation.
3. Refining: Methyl palmitate is refined to obtain pure palmitol.
3. Principle of reaction
The transesterification reaction is a reversible reaction, which is based on the following principle:
Palm oil (triglyceride) + methanol → methyl palmitate + glycerol
The reaction requires the presence of a catalyst, which is usually alkaline, such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. In the process of transesterification reaction, fatty acid esters in triglycerides are exchanged with hydroxyl groups in methanol to produce methyl palmitate and glycerol.
IV.EQUIPMENT
The production of palmitol requires the use of equipment such as transesterification reactors, distillation columns, refining tanks, pumps and valves.
V. Operation Procedure
1. Palm oil and methanol are added to the transesterification reactor in a certain proportion, and appropriate amount of catalyst is added.
2. Carry out the transesterification reaction under certain temperature and pressure, the reaction time is generally 2-4 hours.
3. At the end of the reaction, the reaction solution is sent to a distillation tower for distillation and separation to obtain methyl palmitate and glycerol.
4. Methyl palmitate is refined to remove the impurities in it to obtain pure palmitol.
VI. Control methods
In order to ensure the quality and yield of palmitol, the production process needs to be fully controlled. The following are some of the main control methods:
1. Control the temperature and pressure of the transesterification reaction to ensure the smooth progress of the reaction.
2. Control of the amount and type of catalyst to improve the selectivity and efficiency of the reaction.
3. Monitor the distillation separation process to ensure separation of methyl palmitate and glycerol.
4. The refining process is controlled to ensure the purity and yield of palmitol.
VII. Possible three wastes treatment and comprehensive utilization
The three wastes that may be generated in the palm alcohol production process include wastewater, waste gas and waste residue. For these wastes, reasonable treatment and utilization are needed to reduce the impact on the environment. The following are some possible treatment methods:
1. Wastewater: Wastewater generated in the production process can be treated biochemically or chemically, and discharged or reused after meeting the emission standards.
2. Waste gas: The waste gas generated in the production process can be treated by combustion or absorption to reduce the impact on the atmospheric environment.
3. Waste residue: The waste residue generated in the production process can be comprehensively utilized, such as as fuel or raw material for the production of other chemical products.
In short, the manufacturing method of palm alcohol needs to consider many aspects such as raw materials, process flow, reaction principle, equipment, operation steps and control methods, etc. Meanwhile, it needs to strengthen the management of the three wastes treatment and comprehensive utilization to ensure the smooth progress of production and environmental safety.
