N.T.Linh- Dept.

R&P- HUMG
Cng ngh Ha du v Ch bin polyme (2017-2018)

T HC 2: CHNG 2

Yu cu

1) Phn tch s cng ngh sn xut etylen glycol t kh tng hp bng qu trnh cacbonyl ha
di y.
2) V s khi v so snh cc cng ngh hydrat ha, cng ngh Shell OMEGA v cng ngh
cacbonyl ha trong sn xut EG.
Bi lm np vo th 5, ngy 12/10/2017

ETHYLENE GLYCOL PRODUCTION FROM SYNTHESIS GAS

Ethylene glycol, also known as monoethylene glycol (MEG), is a major chemical commodity,
widely used in the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle-grade resins and
polyester bers. These materials, in turn, are used to manufacture textiles, soft drink and water
bottles, tire cords and more. MEG was rst synthesized via the hydrolysis of ethylene glycol
diacetate. Now, it can be made from multiple raw materials, such as coal, natural gas and
ethylene. Globally, it is mainly produced from ethylene via an ethylene oxide intermediate. This
process generates di and tri-ethylene glycol along with MEG.
The process
In the process described here, ethylene glycol is produced from synthesis gas (syngas), a gaseous
mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2). CO is rst converted to dimethyl oxalate
(DMO), which is then hydrogenated to form ethylene glycol (Figure 1).
Carbonylation
The CO and H2 in the feed syngas are separated. The recovered CO is fed to the carbonylation
reactors along with a recycled stream from the nitrite regeneration section (discussed below) that
contains an intermediate (methyl nitrite). Methyl nitrite reacts with CO to produce the
intermediate DMO and nitric oxide (NO). The product from the carbonylation reactors is
partially condensed, generating a gaseous stream, rich in unconverted CO and NO, and a liquid
stream, rich in DMO. The former is directed to the nitrite regeneration section, and the latter is
directed to the DMO hydrogenation section.
DMO hydrogenation
The DMO-rich stream is fed to the hydrogenation reactors along with H2 recovered from the
syngas feed. DMO reacts with H2 to produce the nal product, ethylene glycol and methanol. A
few byproducts from undesired side reactions also form. The product stream from the
hydrogenation reactors is partially condensed, and the condensate is directed to the purication
section. Uncondensed vapor (mostly H2) is compressed and recycled to the hydrogenation
reactors.
Purication
N.T.Linh- Dept.R&P- HUMG
Cng ngh Ha du v Ch bin polyme (2017-2018)

The purication system consists of a series of distillation steps to separate ber-grade ethylene
glycol from methanol and other byproducts formed during DMO hydrogenation. Methanol is
recovered from an intermediate distillation column and is recycled to the nitrite-regeneration
section. Nitrite regeneration. The recovered NO stream from the carbonylation section is mixed
with O2 and contacted
in a reactive absorber with methanol, which is recycled from the purication section, as well as
from a distillation column downstream. These chemicals react to produce methyl nitrite and
water. The top product stream from the nitrite reactor is partially condensed to remove most of
its water and the resulting methyl-nitrite-rich stream is recycled to the carbonylation section. The
reactor bottom product is directed to a water-removal distillation column.
Economic performance
Variable costs (raw materials and utilities) for manufacturing MEG from syngas in the U.S.,
using data from Q1 2013, are estimated to be $600/ton of product. Historical yearly average
prices for MEG are shown in Figure 2. This column is based on Ethylene glycol production
from Syngas - Cost Analysis, a report published by Intratec. It can be found at:
www.intratec.us/analysis/ethylene-glycol-production-cost.