Studies Of Catalytic Hydration For The Synthesis Of Ethylene Glycol

The method of direct hydration from EO is one of the ways to synthesis EG today, which was monopolized by Shell, SD and UCC companies. About 85% water in the products must be evaporated using massive energy, which brought about the disadvantages, such as long process flows, large equipments and enormous waster of energy and affected the cost of production of EG seriously. Recently, the studies of catalytic hydration show good prospect in solving above-mentioned problems, and has a virtue of good conversion and selectivity as well, so exploratory research on related fields are drawing more and more attention.After studying catalytic hydration systematically, batch-type reaction and tubular reaction experiments were carried out, the factors of affecting the conversion and selectivity were investigated and further optimized reactive conditions. Based on the experiments, direct hydration and catalytic hydration for the synthesis EG were simulated by software, and the relations between all factors and the loss of energy were studied, then excellent process conditions were obtained, finally, the pilot plan of 200t/a was designed.The high ratio of water and ethylene oxide was cut down and the good reactive conversion and selectivity were reached through this thesis, which established the basis for the achievement of commercial process. The studies of this thesis mainly included the following aspects:1. Catalyst of NY, the ratio of water and ethylene oxide, reactive temperature and pressure were discussed in the reactive system of catalytic hydration. According to the results, reactive temperature was crucial in affecting the conversion of EO and 45℃ was the critical temperature, amounts of catalysts and the ratio of water and ethylene oxide were the important factors of affecting the selectivity of EG . 2. Through the study of batch-type reaction, when the ratio of water and ethylene oxide was 9.78:1 (mol ratio) and the catalysts were existed, the optimum synthesis conditions were obtained: the content of catalysts was between 6% to 10%, reactive temperature was more than 45℃ and the pressure was above 0.5MPa, under which the conversion of ethylene oxide could reach 99.8%, and the selectivity of ethylene glycol 99%. 3. The tubular reaction were investigated and the results revealed that under the cyclic catalysts which kept the stable behavior, the ratio of water and ethylene oxide was 9.78:1 (mol ratio), reactive conditions are 60-120℃,1.0MPa,1.6L/hr, the conversion of ethylene oxide could reach 99.8%, and the selectivity of ethylene glycol 100%.4. The manipulative conditions and optimum scheme were obtained after the process of catalytic hydration were designed and optimized, finally, the pilot plan of 200t/a was produced.