PRODUCTION OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain ethylene glycol of fiber grade in high yield by carrying out a carbonation step where ethylene oxide is allowed to react with carbon dioxide under specific conditions. SOLUTION: The carbonation step is carried out in the reaction unit comprising a serially connected bubble column group including a first one 1 and a second one 2 and the following plug flow reactor 3. In the case, (A) ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide are continuously fed to the bottom of the first bubble column 1 and the gas- liquid mixture composed of the liquid phase including the formed ethylene carbonate and of the vapor phase including unreacting carbon dioxide is taken out of the column top and fed to the bottom of the second bubble column 2. (B) The second bubble column 2 and the following bubble columns are maintained their temperatures more than 10 deg.C higher than that of the first bubble column 1 and the vapor-liquid mixed phase flow composed of the liquid phase including the formed ethylene carbonate and of the vapor phase including unreacting carbon dioxide is taken out of individual column tops and fed to the bottoms of the following bubble columns except the final bubble column. (C) The liquid phase from the final bubble column is fed to the plug flow reactor and the objective ethylene glycol of high purity is obtained thereby.