Published November 1991
This report updates PEP's technical and economic appraisals of acrylonitrile manufacture, which were previously examined from 1966 to 1979 in PEP Reports 17, 17A1, 17A2, 17A3, and 17A. We evaluate the current status of the established propylene ammoxidation technology by BP America (formerly Standard Oil of Ohio or Sohio) and a more speculative route based on propane ammoxidation. For comparison, we also present indicative production costs of an integrated combination of propane dehydrogenation with propylene ammoxidation.
At current U.S. prices for propylene relative to propane, the propylene ammoxidation process has a clear advantage over the propane-based options. However, in some geographical locations, where propane is less expensive and more accessible, the propane ammoxidation route could be more economical. We analyze the break-even price relationship between propane and propylene feedstocks for acrylonitrile production.
The report discusses the present status of the acrylonitrile industry and provides data on producers worldwide, manufacturing capacities, consumption patterns, and projected growth rates.
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