Economic and Risk Analyses of an Industrial N,N‐Dimethylformamide Recovery Process

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology 2019-05, Vol.42 (5), p.1116-1126
• Main Authors: Shi, Bin, He, Xiao Xu, Wu, Wei, Hsien, Chu Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dividing‐wall column; Economic analysis; Economic conditions; Monte Carlo simulation; Optimization; Profitability; Recovery; Risk analysis; Wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201800216

The industrial N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) recovery plant is usually based on a two‐column sequence (TCS) and the capacity of the wastewater treatment process is larger than 2000 kg h−1. Here, a dividing‐wall column (DWC)‐based DMF recovery plant is proposed. The DWC avoids the remixing effect and reduces the utility duties by about 18.1 % and the CO2 emissions by 15.2 %, compared to the TCS. The DWC effectively decreases the total annual cost by 3.4 % compared to that of the TCS and achieves a profitability index of 2.19 and an internal rate of return of 40.45 %. By Monte Carlo risk analysis, the DWC can increase the chance of earning the profit by up to 16 % compared to the TCS. Industrial dimethylformamide recovery plants are usually based on a two‐column sequence. The proposed dividing‐wall column (DWC)‐based plant avoids the remixing effect and has lower utility duties and CO2 emissions compared to the conventional system, in addition to lower total annual costs and a higher profitability index. The DWC can also increase the chance of earning the profit.