PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF POLYCARBONATE PLANT FROM CARBON DIOXIDE WITH CAPACITY 50,000 TONS/YEAR.

Abstract

Polycarbonate production has two methods, namely phosgene and non-phosgene. The Non phosgene method of polycarbonate production uses carbon dioxide and ethylene oxide with several stages, namely the formation of ethylene carbonate, the formation of dimethyl carbonate, the formation of diphenyl carbonate (monomer formation) and the formation of polycarbonate. The formation of ethylene carbonate is due to the reaction between carbon dioxide and ethylene oxide into ethylene carbonate. Then the formation of dimethyl carbonate and ethylene glycol occurs due to the reaction of ethylene carbonate and methanol. The formation of diphenyl carbonate occurs due to the breakdown of methylphenyl carbonate (MPC) from the reaction of dimethyl carbonate with phenol. For the formation of polycarbonate occurs due to the reaction of diphenyl carbonate with bisphenol a and a polycarbonate liquid with high viscosity is formed and polycarbonate is formed with an extruder to make polycarbonate into pellets (solids). The production of polycarbonate using carbon dioxide has a high purity level of polycarbonate produced (high purity). The main product produced is polycarbonate as much as 50,000 tons/year and the by-product produced is ethylene glycol 175,887 tons/year. The plant is located in Cilegon Industrial Estate, Banten with a total of 216 human resources (workers). The fixed capital of the factory requires Rp5,464,153,699,302. After the economic analysis, the ROI value after tax is 149.79% and the POT value after tax is 0.668 years or about 8 months with a high-risk level. The BEP value is also obtained at 3.77% with an SDP value of 3.57%. Through economic analysis, an IRR value of 19.25% was also obtained with a MARR value of 3.25%. Based on the data obtained, the polycarbonate plant with a capacity of 50,000 tons/year is worthy of further study and consideration.