Process for the acid-catalysed dehydration of ethanol

摘要

A process for the acid-catalysed dehydration of ethanol, the process comprising the steps of distilling an ethanol feedstock (101) comprising at least one nitrogen-containing contaminant to form an overhead stream (102) and a bottom stream comprising ethanol (103), wherein the distillation has a reflux ratio of at least 20:1; and reacting the bottom stream in the presence of an acid catalyst to form a product stream comprising ethylene.