Polypropylene Production via Gas Phase Process

Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer with exceptional properties, which have made it one of the most widely used polymers, second only to polyethylene in terms of global demand. The second most usual way to make polypropylene are through gas phase technologies. In this report, the production of homopolymer polypropylene by the use of a fluidized bed polymerization reactor, in a process similar to Dow UNIPOL technology, is reviewed. It is presented a detailed technical and economic evaluation of a unit located in the US Gulf Coast, including a comparison between a stand-alone unit and a facility integrated with a propane dehydrogenation plant. Also, the evaluation is conducted for a plant constructed in China. While China presented the most attractive return of investment, propylene elevated market prices in the USA make it profitable only when integrated with a propylene production unit.

About the Publication Program

The Technology Economics Program is a program that provides, by way of periodic reports, in-depth techno-economic assessments covering mature process technologies used by the chemical, polymer, refining and allied industries. Each report presents the following topics:

• process flow diagrams and description
• heat and material balances
• major equipment list
• equipment cost estimates
• bulk material and installation costs
• inside and outside battery limits capital costs
• process yields, raw material and utility consumptions
• fixed costs contributions
• process profitability by location