Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Production | Economic Analysis
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Production — Technology Description & Economic Analysis
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Production
SLES production is primarily based on the sulfation of lauryl ethoxylate, in such a way that different SLES manufacturing routes are basically related to different sulfating agents employed. Typically chlorosulfonic acid, sulfur trioxide or oleum (SO3 • H2SO4) reagents are used for that end.
This article aims to present a brief process description and a condensed cost analysis of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Production.
Process Description
The process under analysis comprises four major sections: (1) Sulfation; (2) Neutralization; (3) Scrubbing; and (4) Packing.
Sulfation. Initially, the lauryl ethoxylate is batch sulfated by cholorosulfonic acid. Both reagents are fed to a glass-lined stirred, jacketed reactor, with the acid being gradually added to the reaction. The sulfation is carried out at 25–30°C under vacuum, over about a period of 2.5 hours. The gaseous HCl by-product is led off the sulfation product, and directed to a scrubber downstream. The sulfation product is fed to the neutralization.
Neutralization. The sulfation product is fed to a neutralization vessel, where it is contacted with a 50 wt% caustic soda solution along with process water for adjusting its active component. The neutralization reaction is carried out at a temperature below 45 °C, generating a 70 wt% sodium lauryl ether sulfate further routed to packaging.
Scrubbing. The HCl evolved during the sulfation is fed to a scrubber, where it is absorbed in process water generating a 33 wt% hydrochloric acid solution by-product.
Packing. SLES is packed in drums and then sent to warehouses at the facility’s outside battery limits (OSBL) to be stored.
Cost Analysis
The economic evaluation of industrial processes is a valuable support tool for a myriad of activities and studies, such as screening and assessment of investment options, preliminary evaluation of the economic potential of emerging industrial processes, rough assessment of the economic feasibility of industrial ventures, cost estimates double-checking, preliminary budget approval, research planning, and so on.
A detailed cost analysis for the manufacturing of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate was developed by Intratec based on a plant constructed in 2022 Q1 in the United States with the capacity to produce 15,000 metric ton per year of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate. The table below presents a few economic figures related to the process “Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Production”.
Where,
“Raw material costs” are the costs related to the raw materials directly consumed by the process to make the final product.
“Working capital” is defined as the funds, in addition to the fixed capital, that a company must contribute to a project, for getting the plant into operation, and meeting subsequent obligations. It includes raw materials inventory, products inventory, in-process inventory, supplies and stores, accounts receivable and accounts payable.
Main Reference
[1] Intratec. 2022. Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Production, Advanced Edition. Available at: www.intratec.us/analysis/sles-e11a
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Production Processes
To learn more about processes related to Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate production, visit: www.intratec.us/analysis/sodium-lauryl-ether-sulfate-production-cost
About Intratec Commodity Production Costs Reports
The report Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate Production is part of a series of reports prepared by Intratec approaching the production costs of commodities spanning a diverse range of industries: Oil & Energy; Fertilizers & Gases; Olefns & Derivatives; Aromatics & Derivatives; Alcohols & Organic Acids; Polymers; Inorganic Chemicals; Food & Nutrition; Metals & Mining; and Pharmaceuticals.
For information on all Intratec reports visit: www.intratec.us
