Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) Plants for Sale

Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) is mainly used as a low-cost solvent for industrial and consumer purposes. The most important downstream industries for the product include de-icers, paints and resins, pharmaceuticals, foods, inks, thinners for wood finishing and adhesives. Cosmetics and personal care products are also created using the cosmetic grade. In addition, IPA is used in motor oils, as a solvent for oils and gums, to manufacture fishmeal concentrates, as a cleaning and drying agent in the creation of electronic parts and metals and as a coupling agent and preservative. It is also used in the manufacture of acetone and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). Isopropanol's use as a raw material for acetone production is declining as acetone production as a by-product in phenol production has increased. There are two main routes to producing IPA commercially. One method is based on the indirect hydration of refinery-grade propylene, which uses sulphuric acid to form isopropyl sulphate. This is then hydrolysed with steam to form sulphuric acid and IPA. The crude IPA is distilled to the desired purity. Another route is the direct hydration of chemical grade (90+%) propylene, which avoids the need for sulphuric acid.