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Updated: Jul 1, 2026

The Effect of Interfacial Chemical Bonding in TiO2-SiO2 Composites on Their Photocatalytic NOx Abatement Performance

The Effect of Interfacial Chemical Bonding in TiO2-SiO2 Composites on Their Photocatalytic NOx Abatement Performance

Published on: July 4, 2017

Comparative Analysis of an Expandable Modular Plant and a Stick-Built TiO₂ Plant.

Peter Oladipupo¹, Arvind Raman², Jeffrey J Siirola¹

¹Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States.

|December 4, 2023

Summary

Expandable modular plants offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional stick-built facilities for TiO2 production. A flexibility feasibility ratio of 0.25 makes this approach favorable in emerging markets like Nigeria.

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Area of Science:

Chemical Engineering
Process Economics
Materials Science

Background:

Expandable modular plants (EMPs) are emerging as a transformative technology for the chemical industry, particularly in developing economies.
Traditional large-scale, stick-built plants face challenges in flexibility and upfront investment, especially in dynamic market conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare the economic viability of expandable modular TiO2 plants versus traditional stick-built plants.
To introduce and apply a novel metric, the flexibility feasibility ratio, for assessing economic favorability.
To identify specific economic conditions favoring EMPs in emerging markets, using Nigeria as a case study.

Main Methods:

Analysis of Net Present Value (NPV)-time curves for both EMP and stick-built TiO2 plant scenarios over a 10-20 year period.
Development and application of the flexibility feasibility ratio to determine breakeven points for economic comparison.
Scenario modeling to evaluate economic performance under varying market conditions.

Main Results:

The study presents scenarios where the expandable modular approach demonstrates superior economic favorability compared to the stick-built method.
A flexibility feasibility ratio of 0.25 was determined to be suitable for the economic viability of an expandable modular TiO2 plant in Nigeria.
NPV-time curve analysis highlights the long-term economic advantages of modularity and scalability.

Conclusions:

Expandable modular plants present a compelling economic case for TiO2 production in emerging markets.
The flexibility feasibility ratio provides a simplified yet effective tool for evaluating the economic advantage of EMPs.
Strategic implementation of EMPs, guided by metrics like the flexibility feasibility ratio, can optimize capital investment and profitability in the chemical sector.