Team 16: The ChemiesTeam 16: The Chemies

Laura HamiltonLaura Hamilton Mike Hall Mike Hall

Dave JankeDave Janke Briley Lambert Briley Lambert

It’s not easy being green -making a biodegradable plastic

OutlineOutline

Review of ProjectReview of Project Design NormsDesign Norms FeasibilityFeasibility ResourcesResources ObstaclesObstacles Current StatusCurrent Status ConclusionConclusion QuestionsQuestions

Review of ProjectReview of Project

Project Statement:Project Statement:To design a pilot plant to produce PHB and To design a pilot plant to produce PHB and

determine if the process is economically viabledetermine if the process is economically viable

Project Objectives:Project Objectives: 60% overall conversion60% overall conversion Safe designSafe design Economically feasibleEconomically feasible

Review of ProjectReview of Project

Starting materials: CO, propylene oxideStarting materials: CO, propylene oxide

Catalyst 1: [(N,N’-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene) Catalyst 1: [(N,N’-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene) phenylenediamino)Al(THF)phenylenediamino)Al(THF)22][Co(CO)][Co(CO)44]([(salph)Al ]([(salph)Al (THF)(THF)22][Co(CO)][Co(CO)44]]

Intermediate: Intermediate: -butyrolactone -butyrolactone

Quick ChemistryQuick Chemistry

Review of ProjectReview of Project

Intermediate: Intermediate: -butyrolactone -butyrolactone

Catalyst 2: (2-((2,6-diisopropylphenyl)amido)-4-Catalyst 2: (2-((2,6-diisopropylphenyl)amido)-4-((2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino)-2-pentene)ZnO((2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino)-2-pentene)ZnO iiPrPr

Final product: poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate) PHBFinal product: poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate) PHB

Quick ChemistryQuick Chemistry

Design NormsDesign Norms StewardshipStewardship

Completely biodegradableCompletely biodegradable

TrustTrust SafetySafety

ChemistryChemistryDataDataSafetySafetyEconomicalEconomical

FeasibilityFeasibility

ResourcesResources

Professor Coates, PhDProfessor Coates, PhD Cornell UniversityCornell University Created catalystsCreated catalysts

Metabolix websiteMetabolix website Industrial consultantIndustrial consultant

ObstaclesObstacles

Equipment designEquipment design ReactorReactor ExtruderExtruder

Polymer processing Polymer processing Heat transfer in reactorsHeat transfer in reactors Hand calculationsHand calculations TIME!!! TIME!!!

Current StatusCurrent Status

PFD – base casePFD – base case Research new equipmentResearch new equipment Up-to-date with MilestonesUp-to-date with Milestones

PPFSPPFS Web page Web page

Meet with industrial consultantMeet with industrial consultant

Preliminary Process Flow Preliminary Process Flow DiagramDiagram

-butyrolactone

Condenser

Reboiler

Distillation Column

-butyrolactone

Catalyst 2

CO purge stream

Propylene Oxide (liq)Catalyst

CO(g)

PO

Spray Column Reactor

Extruder

PHB pellets

Mixed Reactor

Current StatusCurrent Status

PFD – base casePFD – base case Research new equipmentResearch new equipment Up-to-date with MilestonesUp-to-date with Milestones

PPFSPPFS Web page Web page

Meet with industrial consultantMeet with industrial consultant

Questions???Questions???

““Questions are guaranteed in life;Questions are guaranteed in life;

Answers aren’t.”Answers aren’t.”

-Anonymous -Anonymous