Acetone is a clear colorless liquid that is highly flammable and infinitely

soluble with water.Reagent grade acetone can contain up to 0.5% water

as well as small amounts of
other polar solvents. Acetone vapors have a characteristic sweet and
fruity odor at low concentrations. The
odor threshold for humans has been reported at values ranging from
about 24 to 1615 mg/m3, with
235 to 339 mg/m3 being the range of odor recognition thresholds for
most people and 95 mg/m3 being the odor detection threshold for
unadapted individuals (Devos et al., 1990; Leonardos et al.,
1969).
Virtually every organ and tissue within the human body contains some
acetone which is one of
three biochemicals collectively referred to as ketone bodies. Acetone is
produced within the body
as a result of the breakdown and utilization of stored fats and lipids as a
source of energy (Wieland,
1968). Consequently, conditions such as strenuous physical exercise and
prolonged dieting, which lead to a break-down of fat within the body, may
result in higher than average amounts of acetone in the bloodstream
(Williamson and Whitelaw, 1978). Measurable amounts of acetone are
continuously being excreted in the breath and urine of humans as a result
of its high volatility and solubility in water (Wigaeus et al., 1981).

This product is used for the following purposes:-

- As a solvent for cellulose acetate, nitrocellulose, celluloid, chlorinated
rubber, etc.;
- As a carrier for acetylene;
- as a raw-material for the chemical synthesis of a wide range of products,
such as ketene, methyl methacrylate, bisphenol A, methyl isobutyle
ketone, etc, in chemicals, explosives and lacquer industries.
The country's requirement for acetone is totally met through import. Data
obtained from the Ethiopian Customs Authority with regard to import of
acetone for the period covering 1997 - 2004 is given in
Table 1
Table 1
IMPORT OF ACETONE
 Value Quantity Year
(Birr) (Tonnes) Source: - Ethiopian
1,155,509 41.6 1997 Customs Authority
666,919 90.6 1998
313,882 52.7 1999
203,718 24.7 2000
876,904 154.3 2001 Projected Demand
350,414 34.0 2002 Acetone is used as a
438,912 34.3 2003 solvent in the production
of 563,321 57.7 2004 paint, varnish, lacquer,
658,413 47.5 2005 cellulose acetate,
1,023,102 84.2 2006 potassium iodide and
permanganate. It is also used to clean dry parts of precision equipments,
delusterant for cellulose acetate fibre and specification testing of vulcanized
rubber products. This clearly indicates that demand for acetone is directly
related with the development of the industrial sector. Taking this in
consideration, annual average growth of 7% is applied to forecast the future
demand. The forecasted demand up to the year 2017 is given in Table 2.
Table 3.2
PROJECTED DEMAND FOR ACETONE (TONNES)
Projected Year
Demand
74.9 2008
80.2 2009
85.8 2010
91.8 2011
98.2 2012
105.1 2013
112.4 2014
120.3 2015
128.7 2016
137.7 2017
RAW MATERIALS
Propylene or ISO-propyl alcohol is the only raw material used for
manufacturing of acetone in the presence of a catalyst. Packaging materials
are required for delivering this product.

Iso propyl alcohol

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
ODOUR
-STRONG ALCOHol
colour
-COLOURLESS
MOLAR MASS-60.09 g mol
MICSIBLEIN WATER
MELTING POINT -890C
Fairly volatile evaporates easily
BOILING POINT82.50C
SOLUBILITY
-SOLUBLE IN ALL ORGANIC
-INSOLUBLE IN SALT
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Dehydrogenation
Oxidation
Etherification
Halogenations
USES
pharmaceutical industry
Construction field wood
Plantation industry pesticides
Cosmetics baby oils, lotions,
etc.
Aerosol hair spray, detergents, etc.
Removing sticky residue

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Industry (not harm)
Highly flammable/explode away from heat, open flame,
ignition sources and incompatibles
Defect to human skin use glove
INTRODUCTION