Development of a petrochemical process from laboratory scale tests to a commercial plant. A plant producing TAME (tertiary amyl methyl ether) and isoamylene serves as an example illustrating the development of a petrochemical process from laboratory scale tests to a commercial size plant. TAME is an anti‐knock compound used in unleaded gasoline, and isoamylene is a multi‐purpose specialty chemical. In an introduction, the laboratory and pilot plants at EC Erdoelchemie GmbH in Cologne, Germany are presented. Subsequently the main process engineering developments made through experience gained with a semicommercial demonstration plant are discussed. These include optimization of the reactors, design of a methanol extraction unit, and the separation of TAME and high purity isoamylene in specially designed distillation towers. The high degree of coordination during the experimental testing phase to match the requirements of the basic and detail engineering allowed the commercial plant to be started up without expensive modifications within 4 years. The resulting savings overcompensate the costs of the semicommercial plant.
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