Design and Local Fabrication of Modular Alkyd Resin Production Plant using Soybean Oil Feedstock

Abstract

This study presents the novel modular design and local fabrication of an alkyd resin production plant built entirely from locally available materials, addressing Nigeria’s dependence on imported equipment. The production process employs a two-step synthesis: alcoholysis of soybean oil with glycerol to form monoglyceride, followed by esterification with phthalic anhydride. The plant design integrates a jacketed semi-batch stirred tank reactor, shell-and-tube condenser, and liquid-phase decanter, all fabricated from mild steel. Material and energy balances established optimal operating conditions for a 5 kg/batch capacity, with reactor temperature range of 200 to 240 °C, a batch time of 3 hours, reaction rate of 36 × 10⁻⁶ mol/hr, heat requirement of 1882.32 kJ, and cooling water demand of 9 liters. The plant incorporates temperature monitoring, mechanical agitation by a 600-Watt DC motor, and pressure relief for safe operation. Successful fabrication and testing confirm the technical feasibility of indigenous modular alkyd resin production, providing a scalable pathway to reduce import dependence and strengthen local manufacturing capability in Nigeria.