MASS BALANCE SETK 1123

SEMESTER 2 2023/2024

GROUP MINI PROJECT

REPORT

TOPIC: Amination of 100,000 MTA of Ethylene Oxide for

Monoethanolamine Production

GROUP 4

Lecturer’s name: Ts. Dr. Azizul Azri Bin Mustaffa

Section: 05

GROUP MEMBERS:

NO. NAME MATRIC NUMBER

1. Chloe Bong Yun Jie A23KT0261
2. Hooi Jie Min A23KT0266
3. Tai Chee Shen A23KT0223
4. Yong Zheng Zhao A23KT0254
List Of Abbreviations
AM- Ammonia Gas (NH3)
MEA- Monoethanolamine (C2H7NO)
EO- Ethylene oxide (C2H4O)
DEA- Diethanolamine (C4H11NO2)
TEA- Triethanolamine (C6H15NO3)
HX- Hexacosene (C26H52)

Mass Balance Mini Project Calculation Steps

1. To start the project, our group analysed the question given and the whole Process Flow Diagram
(PFD) was drawn by each of every member.

2. After comparing each of every drawing, the final suitable PFD was decided and the FD were
redrawn in Excel with label of overall PFD. Each piece of the equipment in the process using a
different Excel sheet was drawn. The unknowns, molar flowrate, mole fractions and total mass
flowrate were listed down in the form of a table for each stream.

3. All the unknowns were labelled for each of the streams in the overall process flow diagram. As
there were too many unknowns, degree of freedom analysis for the overall system and each of the
process units were done to determine the suitable starting point for calculations.

4. The basis 100000 metric tonnes of EO per year is converted to 286.6348 kmol/hr EO as the molar
flowrate of component EO inside the Reactor.

5. Start calculations at the Reactor as it has DoF=0 (can be solved).

6. Since 3 reactive processes are involved in an oxidative reactor, the Extent of Reaction Method is
used to solve the unknowns. 3 stoichiometrically balanced chemical equations are shown below:

7. The Extent of Reaction for each reaction (ζ1, ζ2, ζ3) is calculated and the remaining unknowns
(ṅ3,ṅ5,ṅ6a,ṅ6b,ṅ6c,ṅ6d,ṅ6e) will be determined by using the Extent of Reaction values where nout =
nin ± vζ (v is +ve for product and –ve for reactant). Main reaction is labelled as ζ1 while side reaction 1
is labelled as ζ2 and side reaction 2 is labelled as ζ3.

8. A total of 4 process specifications (PS) are provided in the reactor part. The selectivity of MEA over
TEA is 8. EO is the limiting reactant with a conversion of 60% in the main reaction and 10% for side
reaction 1. AM is fed in excess of 50% into the reactor.

9. By using the fractional conversion of the main reaction, ζ1 can be obtained. By using fractional
conversion of the side reaction, ζ2 can be obtained. After that, we can get ṅ3 by using the fractional
excess of AM. The selectivity ṅ6c over ṅ6e equals 8 can be denoted as Equation (1).

10. The Extent Of Reaction Method was applied on AM balance and MEA balance. After that,
substitute ṅ6c into Equation (1) to obtained ζ3. Subsequently, the Extent of Reaction Method was
carried out on DEA, TEA and EO balance.
11. Mass balance equations where the concept of “Total input=Total output” were applied to the
following unit processes: Heater 1, Cooler 1, Phase separator, Heater 3, Cooler 2, Heater 4, Holding
tank, and Heater 2, as there is no external reaction and input.

12. At phase separator, AM is separated from S7 and flows to Heater 3. EO, MEA, DEA, TEA were
flow as stream 9.

13. At Distillation Column 1 (DC1), 2 process specifications were given. ṅ11c is 1% DEA in S9 while
ṅ12a is 2% MEA in S9. Thus, ṅ11c and ṅ12a were obtained. Next, EO, MEA, DEA, and TEA balance
were carried out to obtained the rest of the unknowns in terms of molar flowrate (ṅ11a, ṅ11b, ṅ12b,
ṅ12c) and molar composition in S9,S11 and S12.

14. At the Distillation Column 2 (DC2), the information of 65 mole% purity of DEA of distillate stream
was given so that the molar flowrate of S13 can be calculated. Another information given is 97% of
the DEA in S12 was recovered at S13. Thus, the DEA molar flowrate in S13 was obtained. Next,
MEA,DEA and TEA balance were done to calculate each of the component molar flowrate and molar
composition.

15. Since there is no external reaction and input to the Cooler 2, the unknowns at the output stream
are the same as in the input stream.

16. Moving on to the liquid-liquid extractor, 2 process specifications were given where ṅ16 is 1.5 times
total stream 15 and ṅ17 is 98% of EO in S15. The first process specification was used to solve ṅ16
while the second process specification was used to solve ṅ17. The rest of the unknowns
(ṅ18a,ṅ18b,ṅ18c,ṅ18d) were solved using material balance equations.

17. In Distillation Column 3 (DC3), the process specifications given was 99% of the MEA fed to the
distillation column to calculate ṅ19b. Then, the rest of the unknowns (ṅ20a,ṅ20b,ṅ20c) were solved
using material balance equations.

18. At Heater 4, since there is no extra input or output stream, the composition of EO at input and
output are the same.

19. The Heater 4 output stream is then recycled and mixed with heated fresh fed EO. The amount of
fresh heated EO can be calculated by balancing EO to obtain the value of ṅ4.

20. The stream ṅ2 in Heater 2 is the same as ṅ4 since there is no other stream enter or exit the
heater.

21. At the end, after solving all of the unknowns for the PFD, each member took about 5 streams each
to enter the value into the Summary of Mass Balance Table connected to each and every
compartment in the PFD.

22. The selectivity of MEA to TEA is 13.3333. The amount of MEA outlet from Distillation Column 3 to
Main Product Tank is 139.0465 kmol/hr while the amount of MEA outlet from Distillation Column 3 to
Solvent Collected Tank is 1.4045 kmol/hr. EO recycled to Holding Tank is 66.7142 kmol/hr.