Technical and economical evaluation of Azodicarbonamide production as blowing agent

Subject Areas :

Zohre Taherkhani ¹ , OMID SHOJAEI ² , ELAHEH BOHLOULBANDI ³ , hadi momeni ⁴ , mahmood akbari ⁵

1 - استادیار گروه پژوهشی طراحی فرایندهای شیمیایی، جهاد دانشگاهی، دانشکده فنی، دانشگاه تهران، تهران.
2 - ACECR
3 - ACECR
4 - acecr
5 - acecr

Received: 2020-12-25 Accepted : 2021-02-07 Published : 2022-05-22

Keywords: Economic Analysis, Synthesis of Azodicarbonamide, Investment project,

Abstract :

Azodicarbonamide is the most popular chemical blowing agent for producing polymer foams. Due to the lack of internal production, high imports and high consumption of this material in the country, the construction of its production unit seems necessary. However, making a confident decision about construction and financial investment requires a comprehensive economic analysis. In this study, the economic evaluation of azodicarbonamide production was performed and economic indicators were investigated. Capital expense (CAPEX), operating expense (OPEX) and total expense of the project with a capacity of 1000 tons per year were estimated equal to 230350, 117040 and 347390 million Rials, respectively. The analysis of the economic indicators of the project including the internal rate of return (IRR) of 38%, net present value of (NPV) 126701 million rials, rate of return of 31% and payback period of 3.2 years showed the economic justification of the project. IRR sensitivity analysis indicated that sales revenue, operating expense, and capital expense have the highest degree of sensitivity to the economic justification of the project, respectively. Also, the most important factor affecting the NPV was the discount rate fluctuations, so that in the ranges of 21% -38% discount rate, the project is economically justified.

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