Acetonefrom

Acetonefrom is a neologism used in some chemical engineering and sustainability discussions to denote the set of pathways by which acetone can be produced from various starting materials. The term is not widely standardized, but it is used to group methods by feedstock, conversion chemistry, and product integration.

Industrial routes: The most established route is via the cumene process, in which benzene and propylene react to form phenol and acetone as coproducts; acetone can be separated downstream. This route is economical when phenol demand exists and the refinery is configured to handle coproduct recovery.

Alternative chemical route: dehydrogenation/oxidation of isopropanol to acetone. This route is used for smaller scales or where isopropanol is available from other processes; it requires catalysts and oxidants and careful heat management.

Biotechnological route: ABE fermentation using Clostridium acetobutylicum historically produced acetone, butanol, and ethanol; modern variations separate and recover acetone from the fermentation broth, sometimes coupling with gas stripping to reduce inhibition, enabling renewable acetone production.

Sustainability and economics: The relative appeal of acetonefrom routes depends on feedstock cost, energy use, and coproduct value. The cumene route benefits from established infrastructure; biobased routes offer lower fossil energy use but require bioprocess optimization.

History: The early 20th century ABE process contributed to acetone supply during world conflicts and spurred development of solvents and plastics. See also acetone, cumene process, isopropanol, and ABE fermentation.