Acrylic acid is how to manufacture? -- A comprehensive analysis of acrylic acid production process

Acrylic acid (Acrylic) is an important chemical raw material, which is widely used in the production of coatings, adhesives, fibers, plastics and other fields. Its production process is complex and elaborate, involving multiple chemical reactions and steps. How is acrylic made? This article will give you a detailed analysis of the process.

1. Acrylic raw material sources

The production of acrylic acid is generally propylene as the main raw material. Propylene itself is a by-product of the petroleum cracking process and is often produced together with ethylene. In the production process of acrylic acid, propylene, as a basic substance, is finally converted into acrylic acid through a series of chemical reactions. In addition to propylene, some manufacturing methods may also use other chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide, oxygen in the air, etc.

2. acrylic acid production method: catalytic oxidation method

The most common method of manufacturing acrylic acid is catalytic oxidation. The method uses propylene as raw material, under the action of oxygen and catalyst, through catalytic oxidation reaction to produce acrylic acid.

reaction principle

The catalytic oxidation of acrylic acid generally includes the following steps:

• First: Propylene in air is oxidized to acrolein (Acrolein).
• Second: Acrolein is further oxidized to acrylic acid.

The entire reaction needs to be carried out at a specific temperature (about 300 ° C.) and pressure, and a catalyst containing molybdenum (Mo), vanadium (V), and the like is needed to improve the reaction rate and selectivity.

reaction condition control

In actual production, the optimization of reaction conditions is very important to improve the yield of acrylic acid. Temperature, oxygen concentration, catalyst selection and other factors need to be precisely controlled to ensure maximum conversion of propylene to acrylic acid and avoid side reactions.

3. Acrylic acid by-product and its recovery

In the production process of acrylic acid, in addition to acrylic acid itself, some by-products will be generated, such as acrolein and acrylic acid oxidation by-products. In order to improve economic efficiency and environmental protection, these by-products are usually further recycled and used. For example, acrolein can be used as a chemical feedstock for the synthesis of other chemicals, or in some cases can also be converted to acrylic acid.

4. Acrylic post-treatment process

After the initial generation of acrylic acid, it still needs to go through a series of post-processing steps to ensure the purity and quality of the product. Common post-processing methods include:

• Separation and purification: through distillation, adsorption and other technologies to remove the reaction of impurities and by-products.
• Drying and cooling: Control product moisture content and cool to suitable storage temperature.
• Quality testing: Acrylic acid is strictly tested to ensure that it meets industrial and market needs.

5. Acrylic application field

Acrylic acid has a wide range of applications in the chemical industry, the most common uses include:

• Water-based coatings: as a thickener, dispersant and gloss agent.
• Polymer production: Acrylic acid derivatives are used in the manufacture of various polymer materials, such as acrylic resins.
• Textile and paper processing: used to improve fabric and paper properties.
• Water treatment: As a water treatment agent, remove water impurities and pollutants.

6. Summary: acrylic production is how to achieve?

The production process of acrylic acid is a complex chemical engineering, involving raw material selection, reaction process, catalyst application, by-product recovery and post-treatment. Through catalytic oxidation, acrylic acid can be produced efficiently and economically, and is widely used in many industries. For the problem of "how acrylic acid is made", understanding its production process will not only help chemical practitioners to master the technical points, but also enable ordinary consumers to have a deeper understanding of this common chemical.