describe the different methods of manufacturing acetone

You haven't asked for a specific number of processes, so if you want
more, ask for a clarification.

Acetone is also known as dimethyl formaldehyde, dimethylketal,
dimethyl ketone, ketone propane, beta-ketopropane, methyl ketone,
2-propanone, pyroacetic acid, and pyroacetic ether.  Naturally acetone
is the easiest term to use and is also the most common.


A Jewish chemist, Chaim Weizmann, discovered for Britain during WWI a
new way to synthesize acetone from corn starch using the bacterium
Clostridium acetobutylicum rather than by the process used by Germany
(and Britain until Weizmann's discovery) which used calcium acetate.

In 1914, Auguste Joseph Francois de Bavay developed a process for
manufacturing acetone based on the fermentation and distillation of
malasses.

Acetone can also be synthesized from benzene (see the UW Platteville
link) in several ways.

Oxidation of isopropanol will produce acetone, as will oxidation of
cumene.

The resin of the Brazilian Pine can be used to manufacture acetone as
well.


Sources:
The Wikipedia:
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfour_Declaration_1917

Columbia University:
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/chemistry/chem-c1403/exams/key3-f97/key3-f97.html

UW Platteville:
http://uwplatt.edu/~sundin/354-7/image/l547-29a.gif

OSH answers:
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/acetone/basic_ace.html

Australian Science Archives Project:
http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P001007b.htm

According to my somewhat dated copy of Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of
Chemical Technology, acetone is produced chiefly by one of two routes:

1.  cumene hydroperoxide cleavage.  Cumene is oxidized to cumene
hydroperoxide, which is then cleaved by an acid to produce phenol and
acetone.

2.  dehydrogenation of isopropyl alcohol, in the presence of any one
of a number of catalysts, such as copper, silver, palladium, or
several metal sulfides.

Acetone is also a by-product of several other industrial processes,
such as the Shell glycerol process, and the manufacture of propylene
oxide.

Hope this helps some.