Techno-Economic Analysis of Alternative Pathways of Isopropanol Production

Price fluctuations and the unpredictability of a secure supply of fossil fuels create uncertainty in chemical production. One of the chemicals impacted by uncertainty is isopropanol, which has traditionally been manufactured from propylene. The shale gas boom has led to an oversupply of ethylene and shortages of propylene. Along with high growth rate of propylene based-products, propylene market will be tight and prices are expected to increase. Therefore, it is necessary to identify alternative, cost-effective, and sustainable pathways for the production of isopropanol. Isopropyl alcohol, also known as isopropanol, is an important chemical with growing market (global demand is projected to continue to grow annually at a rate of about 2 percent). It is primarily used as a solvent of cosmetics, personal care products, paints and resins, inks and
adhesives, pharmaceuticals, medicals, and veterinary products. It can also be used as a motor oil in automotive industry, a cleaning and drying agent in electronic industry, and a coolant in beer manufacture. The objective of this research is to find alternative pathways to produce isopropanol and to select viable pathways while considering technology and economic factors. The methodology to achieve this objective includes branching and matching, prescreening, pathway selection, and a techno-economic analysis.