INTRODUCTION

Ethylene glycol is a chemical commonly used in many commercial and industrial applications
including antifreeze and coolant. Ethylene glycol helps keep your cars engine from freezing in
the winter and acts as a coolant to reduce overheating in the summer. Other important uses of
ethylene glycol include heat transfer fluids used as industrial coolants for gas compressors,
heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, and ice skating rinks.
Ethylene glycol also is used as a raw material in the production of a wide range of products
including polyester fibers for clothes, upholstery, carpet and pillows; fiberglass used in products
such as jet skis, bathtubs, and bowling balls; and polyethylene terephthalate resin used in
packaging film and bottles. Many of these products are energy saving and cost efficient as well
as recyclable.

Product usage of Ethylene Glycol

Glycols are widely used in industry because of their high boiling points, hygroscopicity, noncorrosiveness, freeze point depression, lubricating, plasticising and solvent properties.
Additionally, their ease of chemical reaction, due to their alcohol end groups, makes them
popular intermediates in the formation of numerous esters.
By far ethylene glycol (EG) is the largest volume glycol product and is used in a variety of
applications. One of the used of EG is typically commercially available in three grades which are
fibre, industrial and antifreeze. The markets for EG products are polyester fibres such as
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics; coolants in automobile antifreeze; and resins. The
excellent humectant (hygroscopicity) properties of EG products also make them ideal for use in
fibres treatment, paper, adhesives, printing inks, leather and cellophane.
Next another usage of diethylene glycol (DEG) is as an important chemical intermediate in the
manufacture of unsaturated polyester resins, polyurethanes and plasticisers. Other uses for
DEG depend largely on its hygroscopic properties. In natural gas processing, DEG serves as a
dehydration agent. It is also used in the treatment of corks, glue, paper and cellophane.
Next the use of triethylene glycol (TEG) is depend upon its hygroscopic properties. TEG is
employed as a liquid desiccant for the dehydration of natural gas. Air conditioning systems use
TEG as dehumidifiers. TEG also finds use as a vinyl plasticiser, as an intermediate in the

manufacture of polyester resins and polyols, and as a solvent in many miscellaneous

applications.

Supply and demand

Based on the study of demand and supply, the global supply Ethylene Glycol is expected to
reach USD 33.36 billion by 2020, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc.
Growing demand for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for packaging applications, primarily in
Asia Pacific and Latin America is expected to remain a key driving factor for the market. In
addition, growth from global textiles industry is also expected to support the ethylene glycol
market development over the forecast period. Volatile prices and tight supply of raw materials,
on account of frequent fluctuations in crude oil prices is expected to inhibit the market growth
over the next six years.
The global market volume for ethylene glycols was 16,511 kilo tons in 2013 and is expected to
reach 22,815.4 kilo tons by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2014 to 2020. Asia Pacific
dominated the global ethylene glycols market and accounted for 66.5% of total market volume
in 2013. Asia Pacific along with being the largest market is also expected to be the fastest
growing market for ethylene glycols at an estimated CAGR of 4.9% from 2014 to 2020. This can
be attributed to the growth of textile and automotive industries in the region. North America and
European markets for ethylene glycols have reached their saturation point and are expected to
grow at a relatively lower growth rates over the forecast period.

Future marketing potential

Ethylene glycol is the bulk chemical that experiencing strong market growth. Much of this growth
is due to a strong demand in the downstream applications of the ethylene glycol. Ethylene
glycols end-user applications witnessing significant growth are polyester fibers and
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin that are growing strongly in most parts of the world.

This study estimates the global market of ethylene glycol by the end of 2016. Asia-Pacific is the
most dominant market for ethylene glycol owing to significant domestic demand and is expected
to be the fastest growing market in the next five years. With the huge market potential and
growing demand, the market is likely to witness considerable growth. The growth in the ethylene
glycol market is also being fuelled by the strong demand of PET fibers in the Asia-Pacific region
where it is extensively used in the textile industry. Another factor driving MEG growth is the
strong global demand for PET bottle resin that is used in the food and beverages industry owing
to its advantages over glass used in carbonated drinks, water bottles, and food containers.
The market is anticipated to continue penetrating the key applications such as polyester fibers
and PET resin. The growth of the market is also largely attributed to the significant demand from
the Asia-Pacific region, especially China that has a huge textile and fibers industry. The
polyester fibers and PET resin applications of ethylene glycol are growing strongly at present.

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this work is the yield of Ethylene Glycol not those of higher glycol does this reaction
is modified in such a way as to favor reaction step one and disfavor the other two steps and this
is achieved by using excess of water for the reaction to dilute the concentration of the ethylene
glycol produced to discourage the formation of higher glycols.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS
There are many ways in order to produces ethylene glycol such as ethylene carbonate process,
halcon acetoxylatin process, esterification, Teijin oxychlorination process, union carbide syngas
process, oxidation of ethylene, hydrolysis of ethylene Oxide and chemistry of reaction. Each
process has its own function and their reasons to be used.
For ethylene carbonate process method, ethylene oxide is converted to an intermediate,
ethylene carbonate, by reaction with carbon dioxide, which is then hydrolyzed by water to give
ethylene glycol. This process was in use in the 1970s, but this process was replaced later by
combined ethylene oxide-glycol plants.

Next, for halcon acetoxylatin process, two reaction steps were used in the Oxirane plant. In the
first step, ethylene glycol diacatate was obtained by the oxidation of ethylene in an acetic acid
solution, catalyzed by tellurium and a bromine compound. The reaction complex, which is quite
complicated, is believed to proceed via a tellurium-bromoethylene complex. The oxidation,
which is carried out at 90-200 C and 20-30 atm pressure, results in a mixture of acetates due to
partial hydrolysis of the diacetate. The reaction liquid effluent is withdrawn and processed to
recover glycol acetates and glycol and provide the recycle streams back to oxidation. In the
second step of the process, the glycol acetates are hydrolyzed to ethylene glycol and acetic
acid. The process however is not popular due to operating difficulties. A plant started at
Channelview to produce 800 million lb/yr of ethylene glycol was shut down after difficulties in
startup.
In esterification process, ethylene glycol can be produced by reaction of formaldehyde with
carbon monoxide. This route first produces glycolic acid which is converted by esterification and
hydrogenolysis to ethylene glycol.

HCHO +CO + H20

HOCH2COOH

HOCH2COOH +ROH

HOCH2COOR + H20

HOCH2COOR + 2H2

HOCH2CH2OH + ROH

Teijin oxychlorination process is the process produces ethylene glycol by the reaction of
ethylene with thallium salts in the presence of water and chloride or bromide ions. A redox metal
compound (such as copper) oxidizable with molecular oxygen is added to the reaction medium
to permit the regeneration of the thallium salt. The Teijin process is still in the works and yet to
be commercialized.

Fe-Cu
CH2=CH2 + O2 + H20

HOCH2CH2OH

The hydrolysis of ethylene oxide method is by far the most widely used method for the
production of ethylene glycol. The simplicity and reliability of the process makes it popular.
Furthermore, it can be used in plants that manufacture ethylene oxide and glycol together. This
process has been selected in this project and will hence be dealt in detail.
The reaction chemistry is quite simple; it is either acid or thermally catalyzed. It is
summarized as follows: ethylene oxide reacts with water to form ethylene glycol, and then
further reacts with ethylene glycol and higher homologues in a series of consecutive reactions
as shown in the following equations:

CH2CH2O + H2O HOCH2CH2O

ethylene glycol
2CH2CH2O + H2O HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
diethylene glycol
3CH2CH2O + H2O HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OCH2CH2O
triethylene glycol

Lastly for chemistry of reaction, the reaction chemistry is quite simple, and can be summarized
as follows:
ethylene oxide reacts with water to form ethylene glycol, and then further reacts with
ethylene glycol and higher homologues in a series of consecutive reactions as shown in
the following equations:

(CH2)2O + H2O

(CH2OH)2

H = 21.8 kcal

Monoethylene Glycol
(CH2)2O + (CH2OH)2 HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
Diethylene Glycol
(CH2)2O + HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH
Triethylene Glycol

The formation of these higher glycols is inevitable because ethylene oxide react faster with
ethylene glycols than react with water. The most important variable is the water-to-oxide ration,
and in commercial plants the production of diethylene glycol (DEG) and triethylene glycol (TEG)
can be reduced by using a large excess of water. The reactor product distribution is essentially
unaffected by temperature and pressure over the ranges (90-200 C, 1-30 bars) which are
normally of commercial interest.

QUALITY SPECIFICATION
Since ethylene glycol is produced in relatively high purity, differences in quality are not
expected. The directly synthesized product meets the high quality demands (polyester grade
glycol). The quality specifications are given in the table below. The UV absorption of fiber-grade
ethylene glycol is often used as an additional parameter in quality control.
Colour, Pt-Co, max
Suspended matter
Diethylene Glycol, wt% max
Acidity, as acetic acid, wt% max
Ash, wt% max
Water, wt% max
Iron, ppm wt max
Chlorides, ppm wt max
Distillation Range, ASTM at 760mm Hg, C,

5
Free
0.08
0.005
0.005
0.08
0.07
<0.2
200

max
Odour
Mild
UV Transmittance, %min at:
220nm
70
250nm
90
275nm
95
35nm
99
Specific Gravity, 20/20 C
1.1151-1.1156
Water solubility
Complete
Table 3.1 Product Specifications of Fiber-Grade Ethylene Glycol
Industrial grade ethylene glycol has a less stringent specification than fiber-grade, with a slightly
larger boiling points range, higher allowable iron content and no UV transmittance test.

CONCLUSION

As the conclusion the production of ethylene glycol by the hydrolysis of ethylene oxide has been
selected in this project because it is by far the most widely used method for the production of
ethylene glycol. It is relatively economical, simple reliable and can be used in plants that
manufacture ethylene oxide and glycol together.
For this project design there is a modification to the common flow sheet used for the hydrolysis
of ethylene oxide process that has been shown above. This modified unit arrangement will still
achieve the production of ethylene glycol at a lower capital cost.
As stated above this reaction can be acid or based catalysed but for this work a choice of a
neutral and high pressure and temperature reaction is made because it has the economic
advantage of having no need for corrosion resistance and no acid separation step.