Production of Mono Ethylene Glycol by Hydrolysis of

Ethylene Oxide
Fawad Ashraf, M. Shehzad Ajmal, Muhammad Danish, Qamar Shoaib Khan –
Chemical Engineers
COMSATS – Institute of Information Technology, Lahore

Abstract
This Project report deals with the design calculations of Mono Ethylene Glycol production from Ethylene Oxide as a
feed stock along with their relevant aspects such as instrumentation and process control, Hazop study and cost
estimation.

The subjected project is based on the

Introduction production of Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG)
Mono ethylene Glycol is one of the important
by the hydrolysis of the Ethylene Oxide and
chemical used in all over the World; it is 26th
is converted into products by using the
most produced material. Currently more than
tabular reactor whereas Ethylene Oxide is
65%of ethylene oxide produced in industry is
manufactured by Oxidation of Ethylene Over
used in the production of ethylene glycol.
Sliver Catalytic bed in tubular reactor. The
Mono ethylene glycol is use in the cooling
project involves the designing of the reactor,
agent, lubricant and as a raw material for the
evaporator and distillation column.
production of polyester fibre. Ethylene glycol
demand has increased by 6-7% year 2004 and Methodology
is expected to increase at this rate through The process used in this report is Hydrolysis
2013. of Ethylene Oxide. Ethylene oxide reacts
with water to form ethylene glycol, and then
In Pakistan Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG) is
further reacts with ethylene glycol and higher
primarily being consumed as raw material for
homologues in a series of consecutive
manufacturing of polyester fibre. The
reactions.
quantum of Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG) is
being consumed as anti- freezing agent is
very small. At present, all the requirement of
MEG is being met from imports.
Material and Energy Balances were applied justify the high value of initial
across following units: investment.

1. Reactor 1 Reference
2. Reactor 2  www.chemicalbooks.com Ethylene
3. Absorber Oxide 2nd edition
4. Stripper
5. Distillation Tower 1  Kern, D.Q: Process Heat Trasnfer,
6. Distillation Tower 2 McGrew- Hill Book Company,1950
7. Distillation Tower 3
 Sinnot, R.K: Chemical Engineering
8. Pumps
9. Storage Tanks Design, Vol 6,3rd edition,Butterworth
10. High Pressure Evaporator 2000
11. Low Pressure Evaporator
12. Vacuum Evaporator  George Stephnapoulos: Chemical
Process Control, Asoke.K.Gohos
Equipment was also designed for all the
above mentioned steps.

Conclusion
Ethylene Glycol has a number of industrial
applications. Some are mentioned below

1. Heat Transfer Fluids

2. Chemical Intermediates
• Adhesives and Coatings
• Emulsifiers
• Lubricants
• Plasticizers
• Polyurethane foams
• Solvents
• Silicon compounds
• Thermoplastics
• Unsaturated polyester
resins
3. Polyester Resins
4. Hydrate Inhibition
5. Coolant: as a de-icing fluid
The investment required for ethylene
glycol manufacturing plant is high but
different qualities can be produced and
then exported to get profits that can