PROCESS FOR THE SEPARATION OF CONCENTRATED ETHYLENE GLYCOL IN A PROCES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ETHYLENE OXIDE

摘要

A process for the separation of ethylene glycol from glycolated water obtained from the bottom of an ethylene oxide desorption column in a process for the manufacture of ethylene oxide by catalytic oxidation of ethylene by oxygen in the vapor phase, comprising feeding said glycolated water directly from the bottom of said ethylene oxide desorption column into the top of a separation column having therebelow up to 12 theoretical plates and adding sufficient indirect heat to said glycolated water to form two streams; a first gaseous stream consisting essentially of steam which is removed from the top of said separation column and introduced into said ethylene oxide desorption column to serve therein as the desorption fluid, and a second aqueous stream containing from about 40% to 90% by weight of ethylene glycol which is removed from the bottom of said separation column.