Production of Ethylene Glycol

Ethylene glycol is a diol chemical compound that is widely used as engine coolant, automotive antifreeze, and in manufacturing of polyester PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Its higher boiling point allows for radiators to operate at higher temperatures. It can also be used as a chemical dehydrator for natural gas production. It is an odorless, colorless, syrupy liquid with a sweet taste. Ethylene glycol is produced by hydrolyzing ethylene carbonate, which is the product of reacting ethylene oxide with carbon dioxide or by direct oxidation of ethylene to ethylene glycol via the intermediate ethylene oxide. Where ethylene oxide reacts with water in the vapor phase to produce ethylene glycol according to the chemical equation C2H4O + H2O HOCH2CH2OH

In this project, it is required to produce 1500 ton ethylene glycol/day from ethylene oxide where the reaction takes place in a packed bed reactor at 9 atm and 90 oC. The reactor contains the anion ion-exchange catalysts which are spherical shaped polystyrene gels with bicarbonate as the anion. It is packed in the reactor in the form of spheres with a diameter of 0.65 mm. The overall conversion of ethylene oxide to glycols is 98% with 98% selectivity of monoethylene glycol while the other 2% is di-ethylene glycol. The produced glycol reactor should be sent to a dehydrator for purification. The dehydrator operates at 88.8 oC and atmospheric pressure. The bottom stream from the EG dehydrator is sent on through a series of distillation columns where the glycols are further separated from each other according to the PFD bellow.

Figure 1. PFD for production of ethylene glycol from ethylene oxide