Technical new feature

A continuous process for the commercial production of isopropenyl stearate (IPS) from triple pressed stearic acid and a stabilized form of propyne has been developed. Cost estimates, including capital costs, operating costs, and profitability, for commercial scale plant production which show the process to be economically feasible are presented. This potentially profitable process offers the advantages of reliable raw material sources, minimal external thermal requirements, and usable process waste streams. For a plant producing 5 million pounds of IPS per year, the selling price range is 80 to 107 cents/lb IPS, corresponding to a raw material cost range of 27 to 54 cents/lb of IPS. For a 20 million pound per year plant, the selling price range is 58 to 85 cents/lb IPS. The selling prices include a 20% annual return on fixed capital investment. Fixed capital requirement ranges from 2.7 to 10.9 million dollars (3rd quarter, 1975) for plants ranging in size from 5 to 50 million pounds of IPS per year, respectively.