Ethylene Glycol

Abstract

Ethylene oxide plus equivalent in ethylene oxide solution is mixed with water to a ratio of 22: 1 for optimum production. Heated to l50oC, the mixture enters the glycol reactor, where ethylene glycol (MEG) is produced at a selectivity of 88.4 percent, 10.3 percent to diethylene glycol (DEG), and 0.5 percent to triethylene glycol (TEG). Processing takes the form of a four stage evaporation system, with successive pressure letdowns and fractionation of the three components.