ETHYLENE OXIDE

Ethylene oxide (EO) is a major commodity chemical that is manufactured throughout the world.
Ethylene oxide is produced by the catalytic oxidation of ethylene over a silver-containing catalyst.
A side reaction oxidizes ethylene to carbon dioxide and water.
C2H4 0.5O2 C2H4O -------- 1
C2H4 3O2 2CO2 2H2O --------- 2
where i is the extent of reaction of reaction i.
The only significant by-products are carbon dioxide and water, which are formed by complete
combustion of ethylene.
The ethylene conversion is typically between 20-30% for ethylene oxide.
The selectivity of these reactions is determined by processing conditions. In the normal operating
range for the catalyst (225 to 275C), lower single-pass conversion favors ethylene oxide
production. A simplified process flow diagram for an EO process is shown.
You are required to design a process to produce 80,000 tons/yr of 99 mole% ethylene oxide.
Single pass Conversion = reactant consumed in reaction
reactant fed to the reactor
Overall Conversion = reactant consumed in the process
reactant fed to the process
Yield = moles of reactant to produce desired product
moles of limiting reactant reacted
Based on literature and journals, select suitable values for of the above mentioned parameters for
the process to obtain product as specified above.
Ethylene Oxide

Ethylene

Air

Absorption
Column
Evaporator

Dist.
Column

Reactor

Compressor

Waste water