In PEP Report 7C the liquid phase ammoximation process based on Enichem
technology was evaluated, while PEP Review 1998-15 examined a vapor phase
rearrangement process based on Sumitomo technology. The review used the economics
from the report for the cyclohexanone oxime. The original intent of the review
was to reevaluate the ammoximation process by incorporating a simulation model
of the process. However, that proved infeasible because of a number of physical
property issues that prevented appropriate simulation results. Subsequent
reviews (2001-2, 2004-1, and 2004-6) examined the major property problems
encountered during the original simulation effort. Therefore, this review
reexamines the results of the original report and the first review to update
the economics of the combined process.
While the physical properties generated by the intervening reviews resolved
the simulation problems, the simulation cannot be considered highly accurate
because some of the physical property parameters were regressed from very
limited data or even contrived data that matched behavior based on anecdotal
information. More rigorous property parameters would be needed to improve
the results, which requires property estimation experts that are generally
not available in smaller organizations, such as consulting groups. Thus further
refinements of the properties and simulation model may yet add economic improvements
to the process technology. However, the general conclusion from PEP Review
1998-15 appears to hold, namely that the technology combination represented
by the referenced patents does not appear to be economical compared to existing
technology.
By Peter D. Pavlechko
