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Production of Ephedrine.HclProduction of Ephedrine.Hcl
Alpha ChemicalsAlpha Chemicals
Department of Chemical Engineering
COMSATS Lahore
Company Profile
Raw Material
CONCLUSIONS
Recommendation
Process Description
Acknowledgement
Group Members
Hafiz Zeeshan Haider CIIT/FA08-BEC-
020/LHR
03343115931
comsian08@gmail.com
Rana Ali Raza CIIT/FA08-BEC-060/LHR
03334134549
ranaali_goga@hotmail.com
Saqib anar CIIT/SP08-BEC-153/LHR
03454891088
saqib_anar@yahoo.com
All praise and gratitude due to ALLAH
ALMIGHTY who created man in His
own image and enjoyed upon him to
travel on the earth and enter into a
profound and analytical study of
Universe for spiritual appreciation of
ALLAH’S unity and His attribute as
well as for harnessing the material
manifestation of the world to the
mankind’s profitable utilization. In the
first place, therefore we express our
utmost thanks to ALLAH.
At the next stage we offer our
gratitude to our Apostle and
prospector Prophet Muhammad
(P.B.U.H) for his golden saying “Gain
knowledge be in China”.
In the end we would like to thank all
the staff members of ALPHA
CHEMICALS (PVT) LTD., who
cooperated with us in every
department. They have provided us
with valuable information which
helped us a lot in completion of this
report. It was relatively a new
phenomenon for us, but we are quite
sure that we have learned a lot from
this internship.
Process of manufacturing Ephedrine HCL starts from
Treatment tank where the pretreatment of raw material
(molasses from its storage bit) is carried out by the
addition of water, Sulphuric acid and Steam. After that it is
sent to pre-fermenter and fermenter for the process of
fermentation in the presence of inoculation media (yeasts
or living cells). By this process PAC (Phenyl Acetyl
Carbinole) is formed and sent to Fermenter Broath
storage tank. Now this PAC further sent for Liquid-Liquid-
Extraction process using toluene as a solvent. The extract
obtained from L.L.E is sent to rich toluene tank. After that
it is sent to evaporator and condenser for concentrated
PAC and separation of toluene This separated PAC is
sent to PAC rich tank. After that this PAC is brought to
hydrogenation section from its storage tank where its
hydrogenation is carried out by using platinum as a
catalyst. By hydrogenation process we obtain Ephedrine
base which is further sent for hydro chlorination where
HCL is added which results formation of crystals and
Ephedrine HCL is formed. This is called crude and sent to
refining section where the process of washing,
centrifugation and drying is performed and manufacturing
process is completed and desired product Ephedrine-HCl
is ready for packing.
Following are some of the suggestions for
improvement of the plant or to increase the
production.
Fermenter:
To achieve the best temperature for fermenter i.e (32
– 34) 0
C it should be under proper showering so that
uniform distribution of the film may form on the outer
wall or the surface of the fermenter. But it would be
difficult to achieve uniform distribution of the film due
to the rough surface of the fermenter wall. For this
purpose the fermenter should be covered with a thick
cloth or some other type of cloth which may absorb
the water well.
Hydrogenation section:
At the hydrogenation section the temperature and
pressure gauges are not working properly and the
workers are just operating these gauges by
calibrating by their own self’s. If the new gauges are
installed the exact composition of the ephedrine
base can be achieved.
Hydro-chlorination vessel:
In the hydro-chlorination vessel, when it is
exothermic reaction, lot of the heat is evolved which
is the dissipating. If this heat is recovered by heat
exchanger or by some other means, it can be utilize
to the treatment tank which is near this vessel.
To Overcome Leakage:
We can observe leakage in plant at many locations.
It must be removed because it may damage the
values and joints of the piping. And it definitely
causes reduction of the product
Workers safety:
Safety equipment’s like gloves and masks must be
provided to workers. So that they can work their face
and hands while using acids or toxic materials.
Its Raw Material is molasses, the residue of the
sugarcane processed juice after the production of
sugar.
It is very informative and worth learning at Alpha
Chemicals. What we learnt in our institute,this
industry gave us a chance to see its practical
applications.We have learnt a lot of things and our
report is a slight expression of it.We also learnt
communication skills
Alpha chemical (pvt) Limited is an organization
producing “Ephedrine HCL” and “Pseudo-
Ephedrine”.
Its Ephedrine production capacity is 3500-
4000kg/month and Pseudo-Ephedrine production
capacity is 2000kg/month app.
The raw material used for these products is
molasses.
Now a days Alpha chemicals has got a great
reputation in pharmaceutical sector and its major
clients are Abbot, Glaxo and CCL. Alpha chemicals
is the only industry who is producing this product.
There is no competitor in the country against this
industry.
Alpha Chemicals established in late eighties. First of
all this plant was in Rawalpindi. This plant is German
made and its technology was adopted from India.
After that this plant was transferred to the present
location 65-km Multan road Lahore.
In the beginning Ephedrine-HCL was prepared by
herbs. Later on, technology was adopted from India
and its production was started with the help of
molasses as raw material.
Ephidrine Hcl