A series of bench-scale and pilot plant experiments were performed to find out the relationship between the reaction time, reaction temperature and conversion. The result shows that the use of an entrainer is helpful for the completion of reaction in shorter time. The reaction with an entrainer can be assumed to be irrversible second-order reaction, where the reaction rate constant is expressed as a function of temperature as shown below.
K = 19,130.4 exp (-13,236/RT)
Nonoxidation condition of the reaction and complete conversion of aniline are found to be important factors of the product purity.
A process evaluation of Acetic acid and acetic anhydride as the raw material shows the former is preferable to the latter in a large-scale production system.
With a projected production rate of 140 tons/year, the total investment is 100 million wons with the rate of return on investment of 8.7%.
