Optimal Design of Gas-Expanded Liquid Ethylene Oxide Production with Zero Carbon Dioxide Byproduct

Abstract

The concept of ethylene epoxidation over methyltrioxorhenium (MTO) catalyst could save the world from global warming since the epoxidation reaction never produces carbon dioxide as byproduct. Unlike the conventional gas epoxidation reaction with oxygen, this reaction takes place in the (ethylene) gas-expanded liquid solvent phase (methanol) while the reaction oxidant is hydrogen peroxide. The reaction takes place at temperatures and pressures close to the ethylene critical point (Pc = 50.42 bar; Tc = 48.56 °F) (Gas Encyclopedia by Air Liquide, https://encyclopedia.airliquide.com/ethylene). In this paper, an optimized design and operation for MTO based ethylene oxide (EO) production processes has been developed, which has less manufacturing costs compared with the one from the current literature (Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2013, 52, 18−29). The developed EO system could produce 200,000 tons of ethylene oxide per year at a purity of 99.9%. It has two reactors for ethylene epoxidation and hydrogen peroxide decomposition, one flash drum, and three distillation columns for product and recycled material purification. The design has secured the safety of the operation by not presenting oxygen and flammable vapor mixtures

Development of an Integrated Process Plant for the Conversion of Shale Gas to Propylene Glycol

“…At high temperature, H 2 O 2 decomposed into H 2 O and O 2 . Equation is important because the cost of H 2 O 2 is the main factor for the economy of the process and H 2 O 2 decomposition gives place to molecular oxygen that can lead to the explosive mixture with propylene. ,, The Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism is used, and the rate equations are as follows where r is the rate of the reaction in mol/s g; b HP and b PO are the coefficients of H 2 O 2 (HP) and PO adsorption, respectively, in L/mol; and C HP , C Pr , and C PO are the concentrations of H 2 O 2 , propylene, and PO, respectively, in mol/L. A series of distillation columns C-2, C-3, and C-4 are used to purify PO.…”

“…Equation 11 is important because the cost of H 2 O 2 is the main factor for the economy of the process and H 2 O 2 decomposition gives place to molecular oxygen that can lead to the explosive mixture with propylene. 10,25,26 The Langmuir− Hinshelwood mechanism is used, and the rate equations are as follows 24…”

Novel Ethylene Oxide Gas Recovery System via Hydrolysis in the Dimethyl Carbonate and Monoethylene Glycol Production Process

“…EO is known to be a very reactive chemical. 14,15 The reactions proceed mainly ringopening reactions, and the majority of these reactions are exothermic. 16 Three important reactions involving EO are…”

“…Therefore, this study proposes a method for recovering EO and EC in vent gas via reactions. EO is known to be a very reactive chemical. , The reactions proceed mainly ring-opening reactions, and the majority of these reactions are exothermic . Three important reactions involving EO are …”