2024 Design and Research Conference

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Chemical Engineering Senior Projects

Integrated Engineering and Science Building 124.

Advisor: Yang Xiao

1:00 p.m.	Cumene Production from an Aromatics Complex Team Members: Ruthie Benson, Rylan Coe, and Carly Osburn (1A) This project focuses on designing a process for the production of 200,000 tons per year of cumene using feedstocks available from an aromatics complex. Cumene, a key intermediate for phenol and acetone production, is synthesized via the alkylation of benzene with propylene in the presence of a solid acid catalyst. The design includes feed purification, reactor design, separation trains, and recycle streams to maximize yield and selectivity. Process safety, energy integration, and environmental compliance are critical considerations. Students must evaluate catalyst performance, conversion efficiency, and economic feasibility. The final deliverables include detailed process flow diagrams (PFDs), equipment specifications, material and energy balances, and a techno-economic analysis (TEA) to determine the process’s profitability and scalability.
1:30 p.m.	Hydrogen and Olefins Production from Louisiana Shale Gas Team Members: Hannah Parker, Garrett Bakanovic, and Spring Christ (2A) This project aims to design a process to convert Louisiana shale gas into hydrogen and light olefins at a production scale of 500,000 tons per year. The process leverages steam methane reforming (SMR) or autothermal reforming (ATR) followed by downstream separation and cracking units to extract hydrogen, ethylene, and propylene. Key design considerations include carbon management, energy efficiency, catalyst selection, and integration of heat recovery systems. Students must evaluate process routes based on yield, cost, and environmental footprint. The design will include rigorous simulation, equipment sizing, and a techno-economic analysis. The project supports regional industrial demand and provides insight into valorizing domestic natural gas for high-value chemicals.
2:00 p.m.	Fuels and Lubricants Production via Hydrocracking Team Members: Gregory Allen, Nathan Massey, and Devin Lawrence (3A) This project involves designing a hydrocracking process to produce 300,000 tons per year of high-quality fuels and lubricants from heavy feedstocks. Hydrocracking is a catalytic process that converts heavy vacuum gas oils into lighter, value-added products such as diesel, naphtha, and base oils under high-pressure hydrogen. Students must select appropriate catalysts, determine optimal operating conditions, and develop process configurations for product flexibility. Key challenges include reactor modeling, hydrogen management, and product separation. The design must also consider safety, emissions control, and energy integration. Final deliverables include a detailed process design, equipment list, utility requirements, and economic assessment of the proposed facility.
2:30 p.m.	FCC Gasoline Desulfurization Team Members: Jacob Michelli, Jackson Still, and Ryan White (4A) This project targets the design of a process to desulfurize 100,000 tons per year of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) gasoline to meet ultra-low sulfur fuel standards. FCC gasoline contains significant amounts of sulfur compounds, which must be removed without compromising octane rating. The proposed process combines selective hydrotreating and post-treatment separation steps to achieve sulfur removal while preserving valuable olefins. Students must evaluate catalyst selection, reactor conditions, and separation strategies. Process modeling, optimization, and emissions analysis are integral to the design. Deliverables include material and energy balances, process flow diagrams, equipment sizing, and a techno-economic analysis focused on environmental compliance and cost-effectiveness.
3:00 p.m.	Olefins Production from Methanol Team Members: Mohammad Tarikuzzaman and William Stilson (5A) This project focuses on the design of a methanol-to-olefins (MTO) process capable of producing 60,000 tons per year of light olefins, primarily ethylene and propylene. The MTO process offers an alternative to steam cracking by utilizing methanol derived from natural gas, coal, or biomass. The design includes methanol pre-treatment, a fluidized-bed MTO reactor, and separation systems for olefin recovery and methanol recycling. Students must evaluate catalyst life, reaction kinetics, and process efficiency under varying conditions. Sustainability, carbon footprint, and byproduct handling are also important aspects of the design. The final report includes detailed process simulations, equipment design, economic analysis, and environmental impact assessment.

Integrated Engineering and Science Building 126

Advisor: Yang Xiao

3:00 p.m.	Cumene Production from an Aromatics Complex Team Members: Louis Clark, Robert Martin, and Sean Nash (1B) This project focuses on designing a process for the production of 200,000 tons per year of cumene using feedstocks available from an aromatics complex. Cumene, a key intermediate for phenol and acetone production, is synthesized via the alkylation of benzene with propylene in the presence of a solid acid catalyst. The design includes feed purification, reactor design, separation trains, and recycle streams to maximize yield and selectivity. Process safety, energy integration, and environmental compliance are critical considerations. Students must evaluate catalyst performance, conversion efficiency, and economic feasibility. The final deliverables include detailed process flow diagrams (PFDs), equipment specifications, material and energy balances, and a techno-economic analysis (TEA) to determine the process’s profitability and scalability.
3:30 p.m.	Hydrogen and Olefins Production from Louisiana Shale Gas Team Members: Kadie Peyton, Zachariah Burns, and Viridiana Arellano (2B) This project aims to design a process to convert Louisiana shale gas into hydrogen and light olefins at a production scale of 500,000 tons per year. The process leverages steam methane reforming (SMR) or autothermal reforming (ATR) followed by downstream separation and cracking units to extract hydrogen, ethylene, and propylene. Key design considerations include carbon management, energy efficiency, catalyst selection, and integration of heat recovery systems. Students must evaluate process routes based on yield, cost, and environmental footprint. The design will include rigorous simulation, equipment sizing, and a techno-economic analysis. The project supports regional industrial demand and provides insight into valorizing domestic natural gas for high-value chemicals.
4:00 p.m.	Fuels and Lubricants Production via Hydrocracking Team Members: Garrett Sepulvado and Kade Esquivel (3B) This project involves designing a hydrocracking process to produce 300,000 tons per year of high-quality fuels and lubricants from heavy feedstocks. Hydrocracking is a catalytic process that converts heavy vacuum gas oils into lighter, value-added products such as diesel, naphtha, and base oils under high-pressure hydrogen. Students must select appropriate catalysts, determine optimal operating conditions, and develop process configurations for product flexibility. Key challenges include reactor modeling, hydrogen management, and product separation. The design must also consider safety, emissions control, and energy integration. Final deliverables include a detailed process design, equipment list, utility requirements, and economic assessment of the proposed facility.
4:30 p.m.	FCC Gasoline Desulfurization Team Members: James Cole, Chase Senac, and Logan Pertuis (4B) This project targets the design of a process to desulfurize 100,000 tons per year of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) gasoline to meet ultra-low sulfur fuel standards. FCC gasoline contains significant amounts of sulfur compounds, which must be removed without compromising octane rating. The proposed process combines selective hydrotreating and post-treatment separation steps to achieve sulfur removal while preserving valuable olefins. Students must evaluate catalyst selection, reactor conditions, and separation strategies. Process modeling, optimization, and emissions analysis are integral to the design. Deliverables include material and energy balances, process flow diagrams, equipment sizing, and a techno-economic analysis focused on environmental compliance and cost-effectiveness.