Author
Steven Oyalemi, Otaraku, I. Jonathan, Akuma A. Oji
Keywords
Cyclohexane, Solvent Recovery; Chiller; Operating Temperature; Aspen HYSYS; Polyethylene; Solution Phase Polymerization; Cyclohexane Recovery; Solvent Recycling; Polyethylene Production; Chiller Optimization; Energy Efficiency; Petrochemical Economics.
Abstract
Cyclohexane, a critical solvent in solution-phase polyethylene polymerization, is often lost due to inefficient recovery in industrial processes. This study investigates the impact of chiller operating temperature on cyclohexane recovery efficiency in an existing petrochemical plant using Aspen HYSYS. It explores the influence of chiller operating temperature on the recovery of cyclohexane, a critical solvent in the solution phase polymerization
process for polyethylene production. Using Aspen HYSYS, a simulation was conducted to analyze an existing solvent recovery system and propose modifications by incorporating an additional chiller. The results demonstrate that lower chiller temperatures significantly enhance cyclohexane recovery yields, with a recovery rate increasing from 83.5% to 89.0% as temperatures decrease from 75 o C to 50 o C. This improvement is attributed to enhanced condensation of vaporized cyclohexane at lower temperatures. However, lower temperatures increased chiller duty and required larger heat exchangers, this improvement comes with increased chiller duty and higher capital investment. Economic analysis indicates a total investment of approximately $746,900.735, a payback period of approximately 1.57 years for the modified system, highlighting its viability despite high initial costs. The findings highlight the critical role of temperature optimization in balancing recovery efficiency and operational costs, offering insights for improving solvent recovery in petrochemical plants.
process for polyethylene production. Using Aspen HYSYS, a simulation was conducted to analyze an existing solvent recovery system and propose modifications by incorporating an additional chiller. The results demonstrate that lower chiller temperatures significantly enhance cyclohexane recovery yields, with a recovery rate increasing from 83.5% to 89.0% as temperatures decrease from 75 o C to 50 o C. This improvement is attributed to enhanced condensation of vaporized cyclohexane at lower temperatures. However, lower temperatures increased chiller duty and required larger heat exchangers, this improvement comes with increased chiller duty and higher capital investment. Economic analysis indicates a total investment of approximately $746,900.735, a payback period of approximately 1.57 years for the modified system, highlighting its viability despite high initial costs. The findings highlight the critical role of temperature optimization in balancing recovery efficiency and operational costs, offering insights for improving solvent recovery in petrochemical plants.
References
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[2] Baeyer, A. (1870). Ueber die Reduction aromatischer Kohlenwasserstoffe durch Jodphosphonium. Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie, 155, 266–281.
[3] Bates, F. S., & Fredrickson, G. H. (2014). Block Copolymer Thermodynamics: Theory and Experiment. Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, 41, 525–557.
[4] Campbell, M. L. (2011). Cyclohexane. Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry.
[5] Chanda, M. (2013). Introduction to Polymer Science and Chemistry (2nd ed.). CRC Press.
[6] Chremos, A., Nikoubashman, A., & Panagiotopoulos, A. (2014). Flory-Huggins parameter, from binary mixtures of Lennard-Jones particles to block copolymer melts. Journal of Chemical Physics.
[7] Eisenbach, C. D., & Heinemann, T. (1995). Thermoplastic graft copolymer elastomers with chain-folding or bifurcated side chains. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 196(8), 2669–2686.
[8] Zhang, F. F., van Rijnman, T., Kim, J. S., & Cheng, A. (2008). On Present Methods of Hydrogenation of Aromatic Compounds, 1945 to Present Day. Lunds Tekniska Högskola.
[9] Gazit, O., Khalfin, R., Cohen, Y., & Tannenbaum, R. (2009). Self-assembled diblock copolymer” nanoreactors” as catalysts for metal nanoparticle synthesis. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 113, 576–583.
[10] Hadjichristidis, N., Pispas, S., & Floudas, G. (2003). Block Copolymers: Synthetic Strategies, Physical Properties, and Applications. Wiley.
[11] Hamley, I. W. (1998). The Physics of Block Copolymers. Oxford University Press.
[12] Hamley, I. W. (2004). Developments in Block Copolymer Science and Technology. Wiley.
[13] Mayer, J., Urban, S., Habrylo, S., Holderna, K., Natkaniec, I., Würflinger, A., & Zajac, W. (1991). Neutron Scattering Studies of C6H12 and C6D12 Cyclohexane under High Pressure. Physica Status Solidi (b), 166(2), 381.
[14] McNaught, A. D., & Wilkinson, A. (1996). Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996). Pure and Applied Chemistry, 68, 2287–2311.
[15] Prince, D. M. (1995). Temperature Calibration of Differential Scanning Calorimeters. Journal of Thermal Analysis, 45(6), 1285–1296.
[16] Warnhoff, E. W. (1996). The Curiously Intertwined Histories of Benzene and Cyclohexane. Journal of Chemical Education, 73(6), 494.
[17] Musser, M. T. (2005). Cyclohexanol and Cyclohexanone. Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Wiley-VCH.
[2] Baeyer, A. (1870). Ueber die Reduction aromatischer Kohlenwasserstoffe durch Jodphosphonium. Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie, 155, 266–281.
[3] Bates, F. S., & Fredrickson, G. H. (2014). Block Copolymer Thermodynamics: Theory and Experiment. Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, 41, 525–557.
[4] Campbell, M. L. (2011). Cyclohexane. Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry.
[5] Chanda, M. (2013). Introduction to Polymer Science and Chemistry (2nd ed.). CRC Press.
[6] Chremos, A., Nikoubashman, A., & Panagiotopoulos, A. (2014). Flory-Huggins parameter, from binary mixtures of Lennard-Jones particles to block copolymer melts. Journal of Chemical Physics.
[7] Eisenbach, C. D., & Heinemann, T. (1995). Thermoplastic graft copolymer elastomers with chain-folding or bifurcated side chains. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 196(8), 2669–2686.
[8] Zhang, F. F., van Rijnman, T., Kim, J. S., & Cheng, A. (2008). On Present Methods of Hydrogenation of Aromatic Compounds, 1945 to Present Day. Lunds Tekniska Högskola.
[9] Gazit, O., Khalfin, R., Cohen, Y., & Tannenbaum, R. (2009). Self-assembled diblock copolymer” nanoreactors” as catalysts for metal nanoparticle synthesis. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 113, 576–583.
[10] Hadjichristidis, N., Pispas, S., & Floudas, G. (2003). Block Copolymers: Synthetic Strategies, Physical Properties, and Applications. Wiley.
[11] Hamley, I. W. (1998). The Physics of Block Copolymers. Oxford University Press.
[12] Hamley, I. W. (2004). Developments in Block Copolymer Science and Technology. Wiley.
[13] Mayer, J., Urban, S., Habrylo, S., Holderna, K., Natkaniec, I., Würflinger, A., & Zajac, W. (1991). Neutron Scattering Studies of C6H12 and C6D12 Cyclohexane under High Pressure. Physica Status Solidi (b), 166(2), 381.
[14] McNaught, A. D., & Wilkinson, A. (1996). Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996). Pure and Applied Chemistry, 68, 2287–2311.
[15] Prince, D. M. (1995). Temperature Calibration of Differential Scanning Calorimeters. Journal of Thermal Analysis, 45(6), 1285–1296.
[16] Warnhoff, E. W. (1996). The Curiously Intertwined Histories of Benzene and Cyclohexane. Journal of Chemical Education, 73(6), 494.
[17] Musser, M. T. (2005). Cyclohexanol and Cyclohexanone. Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Wiley-VCH.
Received : 07 July 2025
Accepted : 05 February 2026
Published : 20 February 2026
DOI: 10.30726/esij/v13.i1.2026.131001