Pilot scale system for the production of palm-based Monoester-OH

A mechanically agitate reactor vessel in a moderate scale size of 500 L has been developed. This vessel was constructed to produce palm-based polyurethane polyol with a capacity of maximum ~400 L. This is to accomodate the demand required for marketing trial run as part of the commercialization intention. The chemistry background of the process design was thoroughly studied. The esterification and condensation in batch process was maintained from the laboratory scale. Only RBD palm kernel oil was used in this study. This paper will describe the engineering design for the reactor vessel development beginning at the stoichiometric equations for the production process to the detail engineering including the equipment selection and fabrication in order to meet the design and objective specifications.