Process for the preparation of ethylene glycol carbonate

摘要

A process is described for the catalytic preparation of ethylene glycol carbonate by reaction of ethylene oxide and CO2 in ethylene glycol carbonate as the reaction medium at elevated temperature and at elevated pressure with work-up by distillation to separate the resulting ethylene glycol carbonate from the catalyst. The process is carried out continuously under adiabatic temperature conditions. Per unit of time, ethylene glycol carbonate as reaction medium runs into the reactor in a amount 10 to 120 times that of ethylene glycol carbonate formed per unit of time. A CO2 excess over the other reaction partner ethylene oxide is maintained at all sites of the reactor. 80 to 98% by weight of the reaction mixture flowing out is returned to the inlet of the reactor, while the remainder is worked up by distillation to give ethylene glycol carbonate. The sensible heat produced in the reaction product as a result of the adiabatic temperature conditions, is used for the work-up.