Sunday, March 22, 2020

Effect of Ethnicity in Nigeria Essay Example

Effect of Ethnicity in Nigeria Essay EFFECT OF ETHNICITY ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA CHAPTER 1 1. 0 INTRODUCTION Nigeria  is  by  far  the most populated of Africa’s countries, with more than one-seventh of the continent’s people. The people belong to many different ethnic groups. These groups give the country a rich culture, but they also pose major challenges to nation building. Ethnic strife has plagued Nigeria since it gained independence in 1960. Officially known as the ‘Federal Republic of Nigeria’, she has  a  federal form of government and is divided into 36 states and a federal capital territory. Lagos, (formerly the capital of Nigeria) is the economic and cultural center located along the coast, and inhabited majorly by the Yoruba-speaking tribe. It is also the country’s largest city (in terms of population). The government moved from Lagos to Abuja in 1991 in the hope of creating a national capital where none of the country’s ethnic groups would be dominant. The  land size area  of Nigeria is approximately 923,768 sq km (356,669 sq mi). It was home to ethnically based kingdoms and tribal communities before it became a European colony. In spite of European contact that began in the 16th century, these kingdoms and communities maintained their autonomy until the 19th century. The colonial era began in earnest in the late 19th century, when Britain consolidated its rule over Nigeria. In 1914 the British merged their northern and southern protectorates into a single state called the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. Nigeria became independent of British rule in 1960. We will write a custom essay sample on Effect of Ethnicity in Nigeria specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Effect of Ethnicity in Nigeria specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Effect of Ethnicity in Nigeria specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer After independence Nigeria experienced frequent coups and long periods of autocratic military rule between 1966 and 1999, when a democratic civilian government was established Nigeria is very rich in raw materials like crude oil, tin, iron etc but is almost solely dependent on crude oil which is a major source of income for the country. While oil wealth has financed major investments in the country’s infrastructure, Nigeria remains among the world’s poorest countries in terms of per capita income. Oil revenues led the government to ignore agriculture, resulting in dependence on food importation. Fig 1. 1 MAP OF NIGERIA SHOWING THE 36 STATES 1. 1 The people of Nigeria Nigerias diversity, both in tongue and tribe makes it a very difficult region to subject to precise classification. This has led to the tendency among many scholars to focus on the three major ethnic or geographic zones in the country viz the Hausa-Fulani (Northern Nigeria), the Yoruba (Western Nigeria) and the Igbo (Eastern Nigeria). These geographic zones are not in any way solely occupied by the three ethnic groups. A plethora of smaller socio-ethnic groups may be located in these zones. The  highest  population densities are in the Igbo heartland in south-eastern Nigeria, despite poor soils and heavy emigration. The intensively farmed zones around and including several major cities of the Hausa ethnic group especially Kano, Sokoto, and Zaria in the north are also densely populated. Other areas of high density include Yorubaland in the southwest, the central Jos Plateau, and the Tiv homeland in Benue State in the south central region. Densities are relatively low in the dry northeast and in most parts of the middle belt. Ecological factors, including the prevalence of diseases such as sleeping sickness, carried by the tsetse fly, and historical factors, especially the legacy of pre-colonial slave raiding, help explain these low densities (Encarta, 2009). Table 1. 1: Statistics of Nigeria Population| 138,283,240 (2008 estimate)| Population density| 152 persons per sq km 393 persons per sq mi (2008 estimate)| Urban population distribution| 48 percent (2005 estimate)| Rural population distribution| 52 percent (2005 estimate)| Largest cities, with population| Lagos, 11,100,000 (2005 estimate) Ibadan, 3,570,000 (2007 estimate) Ogbomosho, 861,300 (2007 estimate)| Official language| English| Chief religious affiliations| Muslim, 50 percent Christian, 40 percent Indigenous beliefs, 10 percent| Life expectancy| 47. 8 years (2008 estimate)| Infant mortality rate| 94 deaths per 1,000 live births (2008 estimate)| Literacy rate| 70. 7 percent (2005 estimate)| Source: Encarta Encyclopaedia (2009) 1. 2 Social issues Wealth  and  power  are  distributed very unevenly in Nigerian society. This is due to several factors including corruption, political instability, and unemployment, amid others. The great majority of Nigerians, preoccupied with daily struggles to earn a living, have few material possessions and little chance of improving their lot. Meanwhile, chiefs, rich merchants, politicians, and high-ranking civil servants often accumulate and flaunt massive wealth, which to a degree is expected and accepted in the Nigerian society. Most of these elite maintain power through networks of patronage: They secure and distribute labour and receive political support in return. The system allows for some redistribution of income because patrons often pay for things such as school fees and marriage costs for relatives, community development, and charity work. Economic  inequality  has a severe effect on health, especially for children. One-fifth of Nigerian children die before the age of five, primarily from treatable diseases such as malaria, measles, whooping cough, diarrhea, and pneumonia. Less than one-half of infants are immunized against measles, and malnutrition affects more than 40 percent of children under the age of five. Adults are equally affected, although with less deadly consequences. Only 20 percent of rural Nigerians and 52 percent of urban Nigerians have access to safe water. One-third have no access to health care simply because they live too far from clinics or other treatment centres. Many others cannot afford the fees charged by clinics. While  average  incomes are higher and death rates lower in cities, urban poverty is as pervasive as rural poverty. Secure, well-paying jobs are scarce, even for those with considerable education. Food is typically expensive. Housing, too, is costly despite its rudimentary quality, prompting the poor to build basic houses in shantytowns. Sewage disposal systems in most cities are also basic or primitive, with polluted streams, wells, roadside drains, and other bodies of water increasing the risk of infectious disease. Industry, automobiles, and the burning of fuel-wood further pollute air and water. Crime  in  Nigeria  rose in the mid-1990s as a result of unemployment, economic decline, and social inequality, which are abetted by inefficient and corrupt police and customs forces. More than half of all offenses are thefts, burglaries, and break-ins, although armed robberies are also prominent. Nigeria is a major conduit for drugs moving from Asia and Latin America to markets in Europe and North America. Large-scale Nigerian fraud rings have targeted business people in other parts of the world. Nigeria  has  been  wracked by periodic violent clashes between ethnic and religious groups since the 1990s. The reasons behind these clashes have varied from local political disputes to conflicts between fundamentalist Muslims and Christians or moderate Muslims. In many cases, local civic or religious leaders have manipulated these conflicts for political gain. 1. 3 Ethnicity: The Ethnic Composition of Nigeria Ethnicity is a term not easily defined and for proper understanding of the concept related terms requires description; an ethnic group is regarded as an informal interest group whose members are distinct from the members of other ethnic groups within the larger society because they share kinship, religious and linguistics ties (Cohen, 1974). Ethnicism is another related concept used to denote ‘ethnic loyalty’ (Pepple, 1985). The concept of loyalty here indicates willingness to support and act on behalf of the ethnic group. Subsequently, ethnic loyalty or ethnicism usually involves a degree of obligation and is often accompanied by a rejective attitude towards those regarded as outsiders i. e. members of other ethnic group (Salawu and Hassan, 2011). Thus the term Ethnicity can be defined as the interactions among members of many diverse groups (Nnoli, 1978). It is a commonplace fact that Nigeria is a society with different ethnic groups, religions, languages, cultures and institutional arrangements. As a heterogeneous society of several ethnic groups, Nigerians are thus characterized by groups, desires, beliefs, values, customs, fears etc. These diversities in national life manifest in several ways including; music, language, culture, dance, beliefs, religion etc. The fact that over three hundred identified language groups exist in Nigeria has created some confusion as one may equate each language group with an ethnic group (Adejuyibem 1983) and thereby arrive at over three hundred ethnic groups. As Iwaloye and Ibeanu (1997) and Anugwom (1997) have argued, however, languages and ethnic groups do not necessarily coincide. One language may be spoken by more than one ethnic group and one ethnic group may have linguistic variations of the same root language. Moreover, while language may be one of the important factors for defining an ethnic group, some ethnic groups in Nigeria may have lost their original linguistic roots, while retaining their identity, as a result of intense interaction with larger socio-ethnic groups. In the same vein, many ethnic groups may use the same language to case communication, as is the case of the smaller ethnic groups in the North of Nigeria, where Hausa has become more or less a lingua franca. Therefore, it has been proven that there is no direct relationship between language and ethnic group in Nigeria. Thus, the 56 ethnic groups identified by Iwaloye and Ibeanu (1997) as the existing ethnic groups in contemporary Nigeria are adopted. It is important to note that the ethnic groups in Nigeria may exceed this number by far, though these 56 groups are both visible and easily identifiable. The 56 ethnic groups are presented in the table below. Table 1. 2: Ethnic group in Nigeria 1. Hausa-FuIani| 29. Buri| 2. Igbo | 30. Balta| 3. Yoruba | 31. Kanuri| 4. Edo| 32. Margi| 5. Bassawa| 33. Delta Minorities| 6. Igala| 34. Gwadara| 7. Idoma| 35. Chamba-Daka| 8. Ora| 36. Mambila| 9. Ijo| 37. Katang | 10. Isoko| 38. Berom| 11. Urhobo| 39. Kadara| 12. Itshekiri| 40. Kurama| 13. Baatonum| 41. Mada| 14. Karnbari| 42. Alago| 15. Dulawa| 43. Migili| 16. Kamaku| 44. Eggon| 17. Ebira| 45. Bokyi| 18. Nupe| 46. Ekon| 19. Gwari| 47. Agoi| 20. Tiv| 48. Efik| 21. Jukun| 49. Ibibio| 2. Chomo-karim| 50. Annang| 23. Jarwa| 51. Mumuye| 24. Angas| 52. Waja| 25. Yekhee| 53. Busa| 26. Karekare| 54. Dendi| 27. Eloyi| 55. Buduma| 28. Gade| 56. Shuwa| Source: Iwaloye and Ibeanu (1997) Nigeria is known for its cultural diversities but while these diversities have been positively harnessed for greatness by other nations of the world the opposite is regrettably the case in Nigeria despite the efforts of heroes past in ensuring that these diversities are harnessed for development; rather they have served as the bane of social, economic and political development. Consequently, Nigeria as a nation has been besieged by an array of social, economic and political problems; these include corruption, tribalism, lack of patriotism, political gangsterism e. t. c (Nduka, 2004 and Omo-Ojugo et al. , 2009). 1. 4 Ethnicity and Marginalisation Before the advent of colonialism, the area now referred to as Nigeria was a large landmass occupied by un-unified people of diverse ethnic groups but for administrative convenience they were fused and merged together by the olonialists. For the duration of colonial rule, the ‘marriage’ of the diverse ethnic groups was maintained and the diversities were united without any problem. With the exit of the colonialists, things started falling apart resulting in marginalisation and ethnic conflict thus adversely effecting the development of the budding nation. Ethnic conflict has been rightly defined as one of the greatest obstacles to meaningful development in Africa. The ethnic factor did not diminish with the advent of independence; rather, it became a yardstick for measuring contribution to the national development effort and especially for allocating and distributing power and national resources and eventually resulted in the 30- month slaughter in the Nigerian civil war (1967 to 1970) which was anchored on ethnic rivalry. The history of present day Nigeria is rife with cases of ethno-religious conflicts. Since the annulment of the 1993 elections, there have been increased demands and counter-demands for marginalisa1ion by various ethnic groups in the country. Marginalisation stems from a peoples perception of their treatment in the allocation or distribution of power and resources. A classic example is made for the Ogoni, who despite having provided the nation with an estimated $30,000 million in oil revenues, their people had no pipe borne water or electricity, and lacked education, health and other social facilities: it is intolerable that one of the richest areas of Nigeria should wallow in abject poverty and destitution (Saro-Wiwa, 1992). In this light, the Ogoni ethnic group has concrete reasons to consider itself marginalised, especially since these facilities can be found in other ethno-regional areas of Nigeria. 1. 5 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY The general objective of the study is to 1. Investigate the role ethnicity plays in the socio-economic development of Nigeria. 2. Assess the impact of ethnicity on present day Nigeria 3. Examine the effect on day-to-day activities of Nigerians 1. 6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS i. Impact of ethnicity on social and economic development in Nigeria? ii. Role of colonialism in ethnic groups formation . 7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY The scope of the project envelops the influence of ethnicity in Nigeria’s social and economic development and its impact on present day Nigeria. 1. 8 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The importance of this study is made manifest in the form of understanding the role ethnic diversity plays in the development of a country, in this case Nigeria. 1. 9 CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION ET HNICITY: Ethnicity in this study is referred to as an affiliation resulting from racial or cultural ties or the interactions among members of many diverse groups ETHNIC GROUP: For the purpose of this study, an ethnic group is regarded as an informal interest group whose members are distinct from the members of other ethnic groups within the larger society because they share kinship, religious and linguistics ties SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: in this project, socio economic development is defined as a comprehensive process involved in improving social and economic conditions on individual and group empowerment, community, national and regional building.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Production of Acetone from isopropyl alcohol

Production of Acetone from isopropyl alcohol Introduction Acetone is one of the most widely used solvents in the world and can be used as an intermediate for several commercial products such as acrylic plastic, bisphenol, polycarbonates and epoxy resin, paints, and adhesives among others. According to Tremoulet et al. (Para 2), Acetone is often a by-product of phenol, with scientists capable of producing acetone from a variety of materials including propylene, cumene, and isopropanol.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Production of Acetone from isopropyl alcohol specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In industrial production acetone is an organic compound with a chemical formula of (CH3)2CO. Tremoulet et al. affirm that during production of cumene, â€Å"hydro peroxide generated from this process undergoes slicing to engender phenol and acetone† (Para 2). Where scientists require a high concentration of high-purity acetone, they can undertake Catalytic dehydrog enation of isopropanol as a substitute method to manufacturing acetone. As a fresh engineer and based on knowledge in chemical engineering, this paper seeks to design an acetone plant that produces 50 thousand tons per year from isopropyl alcohol. Problem Statement For several decades, scientists have consistently tried to incorporate knowledge to individuals on how to produce simple acetone, with the importance of acetone becoming widely known. A research documented by Rahman indicates, â€Å"The catalytic hydrogenation of acetone is an important area of catalytic process to produce fine chemicals† (113). The fine chemicals are useful since the form key element in the conversion of liquid or gaseous fuels as well as having important application in the heat pumps. Typically, scientists have developed vast number of homogeneous complexes and heterogeneous catalysts that have existed until the date for the production fine chemicals, with little knowledge existing in the product ion of acetone using isopropyl alcohol (IARC 479). For this reason therefore, this paper seeks to provide a comprehensive report on the chemical production of acetone using isopropyl alcohol as the main material. Physical properties of all components Acetone is an organic compound having several physical properties during the entire process of production. Following the procedure in the production of acetone, the several materials emerge during and after the production. To begin with, in the feed drum there are normally three materials in this mixture.Advertising Looking for report on chemistry? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The mixtures found in the feed drum as described in the production process entail recycle stream, water, and isopropyl alcohol. This mixture has a number of physical properties noted as colourless, moveable, with mildly pungent smell and liquid in nature (IARC 481). The mixture goes through all other procedures including processes in the vaporizer, heater and reactor the mixture maintains similar physical characteristics. However, flammability of the mixture is eminent throughout the process and engineers should take caution during the chemical production of acetone. In the final process, the mixture produces acetone, as the final product and this liquid possesses characteristics such as colorlessness, mobility, flammability, and pungency in its smell. Production process and alternative processes In the process of producing acetone-using isopropyl alcohol, several processes are inclusive in this procedure. Since the advent of discovery of production of acetone, several Chemical Engineering processes and procedures have emerged with a range of materials proving imperative. As mentioned before, acetone can result from the chemical reaction of several materials. Laboratory production of Acetone can use isopropyl alcohol as the reactant; can use oxidation of Propylene process, oxidation of Butanol, oxidation of Isopropyl Benzene as well as Dehydrogenation of Isopropanol (Arda et al. 8). During the production or engineering process of acetone, all chemical reactions involved are essential to produce fine acetone, which is useful commonly as a solvent. To understand the chemical production of acetone, this study provides the entire engineering process of acetone from isopropyl alcohol using â€Å"feed drum, vaporizer, heater, reactor, furnace, cooler, condenser, flash unit, scrubber, acetone and IPA columns† (Arda et al. 10). The study will also provide a diagrammatic presentation of the process. Production process In common processes, original invention of acetone instigates in the feed drum where mixing of feed including isopropyl alcohol, water, and recycle stream takes place. Vigorous mixing of these feeds (components) leads to a substantial reaction. From the feed drum, the mixture goes to another important stage, where the vaporizer provides r oom for further chemical reaction (Arda et al. 11).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Production of Acetone from isopropyl alcohol specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The mixture in the vaporizer changes the streams phase into vapor. After undergoing the necessary procedures required in the vaporizer, the mixture undergoes another important phase in the heater. In the heater chamber, the mixture undergoes vigorous heating to enhance reaction through subjecting the mixture to higher temperatures. Reactor is another important section, where this section provides tubular flow reaction. In the reactor, the process is capable of achieving two products namely, Acetone, hydrogen gas, while isopropyl and water undergo discharging. A concentrated mixture comprising of hydrogen, water, acetone, and isopropyl-alcohol proceeds to the cooler and then further to the condenser unit before it proceeds to the flash unit. In the flash un it Hydrogen, acetone, isopropyl-alcohol and water form the top product. The top product comprising of acetone proceeds to another important procedure in the scrubber. In the scrubber chamber, the main purpose is to separate hydrogen gas from the mixture. Thereafter, the bottom product produced in the flash unit comprising of water, isopropyl alcohol, and acetone is mixed with the bottom product from the scrubber in the acetone column. In the acetone column, the reaction produces acetone from the top product with almost 99-wtpercentage isopropyl and water (Arda et al. 7). 0.1% of acetone then proceeds to isopropyl alcohol column from the bottom product. Finally, the top product of the isopropyl column is taken to the feed drum. The remaining part of mixture (residue) found, popularly referred as bottom product, remains as dissipate of the reaction. The following is the general formulae for the reactions in the production of acetone using isopropyl alcohol. Advertising Looking for report on chemistry? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The production of acetone Discussion of the production process In the feed drum: A feed is a tank like object used in the mixing of the recycle stream and the feed stream. The mixture ran at a temperature of 25 Degrees Celsius in the feed stream, which the engineers assumed it was constant. The temperature in the recycle stream used was about 110 degrees Celsius. In the vaporizer: to reduce the chemical reaction speed necessary in the fine production acetone, it was important to consider the use of salt. Engineers used similar temperature of the mixture leaving the feed drum to maintain the reaction in the vaporizer. The mixture undergoes several chemical reactions to produce the product known as acetone. Kinetic data of the reactions During the chemical production process of acetone energy consumption and the rate of consumption are important factors considered in a bid to obtain fine acetone. This report adopted the kinetic energy data provided by (Arda et al. 15) to explain the e nergy consumption of the process. This part covered energy data consumed in the Feed Drum, where the process begins to the isopropyl-alcohol column, where the process ends. Other related processes (Chemical processes) Oxidation of Propylene-as postulated before, several other processes can be useful in production of acetone. Production of acetone can involve oxidation of Propylene. In normal occasions, a process for production of acetone by direct oxidation of propylene, involves the oxidation process by air. The process principally involves a solution of copper chloride with small quantities of palladium chloride mixed in the air to produce acetone. Chemical formulae: C3H6 + 1/2O2 CH3COCH3 Oxidation of Butanol- chemical engineers can as well produce acetone from a process of oxidation of Butanol. Rahman asserts, â€Å"The solvent used methanol, ethanol, propanol; n-butanol, ethylene glycol; propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and triethylene glycol are useful solvents for hyd rogenation reactions† (120). According to Arda et al., catalytic oxidation of butane by using cobalt and manganese acetate produces acetic acid under a temperature rate of 150-225 degrees Celsius, where butane undergoes oxidation to produce acetone of almost 75-80% yield (18). Chemical formulae: CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3 + O2-CH3COOH + CH3COCH Oxidation of Isopropyl Benzene (Cumene) Cumene is an organic compound produced from an integrated process of producing phenol. Production of phenol further involves, â€Å"alkylation of benzene with propene to obtain cumene, oxidation of cumene to cumene hydro peroxide, acid cleavage of cumene hydro peroxide to produce phenol and acetone† (Rahman 114). According to the explanation given by Arda et al. (21), cumene is simply a product obtained from synthesis of propylene and benzene and oxidation of the product to produce acetone and phenol. Dehydrogenation of Isopropanol- Another important method of obtaining acetone is dehydrogenation of Isopropanol. Rahman postulates, â€Å"Isopropanol is widely regarded as an essential commodity in fine chemical synthesis which is used as a solvent in the industry and academia† (113). Normally, hydrogenation of acetone leads to production of Isopropanol, and the vice versa is that dehydrogenation of Isopropanol produces acetone. The catalyst used in this process is Zinc Oxide (ZnO) (IARC 483). The following is the chemical formulae for dehydrogenation of Isopropanol. Chemical formulae: (CH3)2CHOH (CH3)3CO + H2 Safety and environment concerns It is important to consider personal health and environmental safety concerns while undertaking chemical production of acetone. Acetone is a chemical like any other and there are possibilities of causing harm to human beings, animals and the entire flora and fauna (Tremoulet et al. Para 6). All chemicals used in the production of acetone comprise of some caution notices, which engineers of acetone should follow strictly to avoid explosi ve reactions. In special attention, engineers should ensure that they prevent contamination of soil, drains and surface water. According to Arda et al. (17), engineers interested in the production of acetone should strictly adhere to all industrial principles governing the production and consumption of chemicals including handling and storing of hazardous chemicals. Acetone forms explosive mixtures with air and is extremely explosive and users of this chemical should remain keen throughout. Engineers should address any accidental inhalation or suffocation and any accidental cases with any first aid before considering seeking health assistance from physicians. Preliminary cost of the materials For engineers to engage in the production of acetone, it is imperative to consider the preliminary cost of production. However, the cost of producing acetone depends entirely on the amount of acetone produced. The major aim of preferring to produce more attractive and affordable acetone in the market was to employ the use of isopropyl alcohol in producing acetone (Rahman 118). The production of acetone using isopropyl alcohol must be in a position to demonstrate the aspect of saving. Several materials and chemicals were useful and mandatory for the successful production of acetone. In a bid to determine the overall production cost of acetone for this project, this study employed a program costing technique known as CAPCOST to estimate the price of equipment employed. The following table provides a detailed cost data for the production of acetone of this study as adopted from an empirical study by Tremoulet et al. Total Production cost for acetone using isopropyl alcohol Item description Cost of the item Reactor Bare Module $204,300 Heat Exchanger Bare Module $96,500 Fired Heater Bare Module $234,200 Pump Bare Module $73,100 Vessel Bare Module $9,600 Bare Module Cost of Reaction Side $617,700 Catalyst $68,200 Total $496,100 Summary of the literature r eview Acetone is an organic compound produced using different chemical methods. However, this study dealt with the chemical production of acetone using isopropyl alcohol, which is an essential component in the production of acetone. Acetone is one of the most widely used solvents in the world and can be used as intermediate for several commercial products such as acrylic plastic, bisphenol, polycarbonates and epoxy resin, paints and adhesives, etc. In other places, acetone has been useful in nurturing women beauty, where women have used acetone in removing nail cuticles (Tremoulet et al. Para 7). Acetone is often a by-product of phenol, with scientists capable of producing acetone from a variety of materials including propylene, cumene, and isopropanol. Acetone production involves several chemical and physical processes including heating, vaporizing, reacting, cooling, condensing, flashing, heating and scrubbing. Production of acetone begins in the feed drum and ends in the isopropy l column where acetone finally emerges. One chemical formula can be useful in summarizing the process of producing acetone. CH3-CHOH-CH3 CH3-CO-CH3 + H2 can summarize the chemical reaction process in the production of acetone. It is also important to notice that production of acetone is a very reactive process that needs consideration of safety and environmental concern. All chemicals used in the production of acetone comprise of some caution notices, which engineers of acetone should follow strictly to avoid explosive reactions. Acetone forms explosive mixtures with air and is extremely explosive and users of this chemical should remain keen throughout. Finally, engineers should address any accidental inhalation or suffocation and any accidental cases with any first aid before considering seeking health assistance from physicians. Arda, Urun, Serkan Acarser, Muge Metin, Sila Gungor, and Ali Kucuk. Chemical Engineering Design Project: Acetone Production, 2009. Web. IARC. Isopropyl Alcohol Manufacture by the Strong-Acid Process. PDF file. Web. Rahman, Ateeq. â€Å"Catalytic Hydrogenation of Acetone to Isopropanol: An Environmentally Benign Approach.† Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering Catalysis 5.2 (2010): 113 – 126. Print. Tremoulet Mike, Mike Unton, and Ed Feng. Production of Acetone Using Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Isopropyl Alcohol, 1998. Web.