Process for the production of ethylene glycol

摘要

The invention relates to a novel, very economical process for the industrial production of ethylene glycol from formaldehyde and synthesis gas, i.e. a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The process is based on a synthetic route in which a formaldehyde di-s-alkyl acetal, which is obtained from formaldehyde and a secondary alcohol, is reacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen to give an ethylene glycol mono-s-alkyl ether, which is then hydrolyzed with water to give the desired ethylene glycol. The first reaction step of the reaction of the acetal compound is catalyzed by cobalt carbonyl as a single component catalyst, while the hydrolysis reaction is carried out using an acidic catalyst; a high yield is obtained according to the invention, which is surprising in respect of the analogous reaction of primary alkyl monoethers of ethylene glycol.