A Plant Design Project on the Production of 10,000 Tonnes per Year of Methyl Ethyl Ketone via Catalytic Dehydrogenation of 2-Butanol

Abstract

This project aims to address the growing demand for Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) in Pakistan and foster growth in the organic solvent sector. To achieve this, various methods of producing MEK have been carefully analyzed and evaluated for cost effectiveness, and catalytic dehydrogenation of 2-butanol has been determined to be the most efficient and economical approach. This method involves a straightforward process of eliminating hydrogen from 2-butanol using a catalyst at the appropriate temperature and pressure to produce high-purity MEK. To design the MEK production plant, several critical steps have been undertaken, including conducting mass and energy balances, designing the primary equipment, developing process instrumentation and control, and estimating the process's cost. The significance of this initiative is its potential to drive growth in the organic solvent sector in Pakistan, given that this method has been successfully industrialized in other countries.