How is isopropyl alcohol produced | Detailed Explanation

There has been production of isopropyl alcohol since 1920. The most well-known effect of this substance is that it can kill major bacteria and other potential pollutants. Therefore, people use it as a main component in disinfectants. There are also many other applications because of its other special effects. How is isopropyl alcohol produced? Let’s learn some basic knowledge first and then you will know the answer.

Isopropyl alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol is an organic compound and has many applications. We can find this substance in agricultural chemicals, paintings, chemicals for daily use, etc. It is flammable and colorless. It has an odor similar to ethanol and acetone.

However, unlike ethanol, it is insoluble in salt-containing solutions. Therefore, it can be separated by adding any inorganic salt solution. How is isopropyl alcohol produced? Yes, it requires some production methods.

Effects and applications

How is isopropyl alcohol produced? Before answering the question, let me show you its main effects and applications.

1.Medical disinfection field

It has a strong bactericidal ability and the same disinfection range as ethanol. However, its disinfection performance is much better than ethanol. Therefore, it is the most excellent disinfectant and people prefer to use it for skin disinfection, clean medical devices, etc.

2.Cleaning agent field

Besides the disinfectant effect, isopropyl alcohol also has a particularly strong solubility for lipophilic substances. Especially, its good volatility can effectively remove various oil stains and impurities without causing any damage to the equipment itself. People prefer to use it as the main component of industrial cleaning agents. It can clean electronic devices, optical instruments, and other precision equipment.

3.Ink and coating field

Because isopropyl alcohol can improve the fluidity of ink resin, adding it can make the ink easier to apply to printing materials. Besides, it can also adjust the drying speed, transparency, and viscosity of ink according to different printing materials. Therefore, it can make a better printing effect. What’s more, it can also improve the quality of ink, make it more stable and uniform, and with brighter colors and better performance.

4.Motor vehicle field

You can also find isopropyl alcohol in fuel additives because it can prevent water accumulation in the fuel pipeline. Besides, it can also prevent the water in the fuel from freezing. What’s more, spraying it on the windshield will quickly melt the ice and have a cleaning effect.

5.Laboratory field

There is isopropyl alcohol in almost every laboratory. People use it to disinfect lab equipment and workbenches. Besides, it can also be applied as a preservative for biological samples and a reaction medium for some chemical reactions. In certain cases, people use it to replace ethanol for extracting DNA from cells.

How is isopropyl alcohol produced?

How is isopropyl alcohol produced? You can refer to the below steps.

1.Raw material

Firstly, we need to prepare the raw material. Acrylic is the main raw material, and water and hydrogen are the auxiliary materials.

2.Equipment preparation

After getting the raw material, we need to prepare the following main equipment.

Firstly, we need to prepare a reactor with good sealing performance and stirring function. It is used for the reaction of propylene with water.

Secondly, we need to prepare a distillation tower. It is for separating and purifying mixtures of propylene and acetone. 

Thirdly, we need a catalyst regeneration device. It should have heating and cooling functions for the regeneration treatment of catalysts. 

3.Production process

Step 1: Prepare propylene, water, and hydrogen and mix them in a certain proportion.

Step 2: Put them into the reactor.

Step 3: Wait for the catalyst reaction. Propylene will react with water and produce a mixture of propylene and acetone.

Step 4: After the reaction is complete, cool the mixture.

Step 5: Separate and purify the mixture and get the high-purity products.

Step 6: Regenerate the used catalyst for future use.

4.Points for attention

-Before production, you should strictly control the quality and proportion of raw materials to ensure a safe and good reaction.

-Strengthen equipment maintenance and daily checks to prevent leaks and malfunctions.

-Be careful of the waste and by-products, do not harm the environment and human health.

Conclusion

Isopropyl alcohol is a substance used in many fields around us. How is isopropyl alcohol produced? What is this substance? What are its effects and applications? After reading this article, you will get all the answers and have a clear picture of this substance.