Process for production of ethylene glycol

摘要

Process for production of ethylene glycol comprising contacting a nonflammable feed comprising ethylene, molecular oxygen and water with a catalyst comprising iodine under reaction conditions in a reaction zone in which there is maintained a partial pressure of ethylene that is effective to yield ethylene glycol without substantial acetaldehyde generation. In a preferred embodiment, ethylene glycol is removed from the reaction zone at a rate effective to minimize formation of condensed glycol by-products.