Abstract: The present invention relates to method and an apparatus for quantitatively analyzing a gaseous process stream, in particular a stream from a process for producing ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, in particular where such stream comprises gaseous organic iodides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing ethylene glycol and/or ethylene carbonate, said process comprising contacting at least a portion of a recycle gas stream comprising an alkyl iodide impurity with a guard bed system positioned upstream of an ethylene oxide reactor to produce a treated recycle gas stream, wherein the guard bed system comprises silver on alumina; contacting a feed gas stream comprising ethylene, oxygen and at least a portion of the treated recycle gas stream with an epoxidation catalyst in the ethylene oxide reactor to produce an epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide; and contacting at least a portion of the epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide with an aqueous absorbent in the presence of an iodide-containing catalyst in an absorber to produce an aqueous product stream comprising ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol and the recycle gas stream comprising the alkyl iodide impurity.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of ethylene glycol comprising the steps of: a) supplying a first gas composition comprising ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide to an ethylene oxide absorber and allowing the gas composition to pass upwards through an absorption section; b) supplying a lean absorbent to the top of the absorption section and allowing the lean absorbent to pass downwards through the absorption section; c) intimately contacting the gas composition with lean absorbent on the trays in the absorption section in the presence of one or more catalysts to produce a fat absorbent stream comprising ethylene glycol and ethylene carbonate; d) withdrawing fat absorbent from the absorber; and e) withdrawing a second gas composition from the top of the absorber.

Abstract: A process for producing ethylene glycol and/or ethylene carbonate, said process comprising contacting at least a portion of a recycle gas stream comprising an alkyl iodide impurity with a guard bed system positioned upstream of an ethylene oxide reactor to produce a treated recycle gas stream, wherein the guard bed system comprises silver on alumina; contacting an epoxidation feed stream comprising an ethylene feed stream, oxygen, chloride moderator, and at least a portion of the treated recycle gas stream with an epoxidation catalyst in the ethylene oxide reactor to produce an epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide; and contacting at least a portion of the epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide with a liquid absorbent in the presence of an iodide-containing catalyst in an absorber to produce a product stream comprising ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol and the recycle gas stream comprising the alkyl iodide impurity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and an apparatus for quantitatively analyzing a gaseous process stream, in particular a stream from a process for producing ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, in particular where such stream comprises gaseous organic iodides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, which comprises the following steps: a) supplying an overhead absorber stream withdrawn from an absorber to a vapor-liquid separator to yield an aqueous bottoms stream and a recycle gas stream; b) supplying an aqueous process stream comprising one or more impurities to a distillation apparatus to yield an overhead impurities stream and a purified aqueous process stream, wherein the aqueous process stream supplied to the distillation apparatus comprises at least a portion of the aqueous bottoms stream withdrawn from the vapor-liquid separator, wherein the overhead impurities stream is supplied to a condenser and is cooled to a temperature in the range of from 5 to 95° C., wherein the cooled overhead impurities stream is split into a reflux stream which is recycled to the distillation apparatus and an overhead impurities stream; and further steps c) and d).

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and an apparatus for quantitatively analyzing a gaseous process stream, in particular a stream from a process for producing ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, in particular where such stream comprises gaseous organic iodides.

Abstract: The invention provides a reaction system for the production of ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol. The system having a guard bed system upstream of a catalytic EO reactor. The guard bed system having a feed line supplying a gaseous feed to be treated and an effluent line configured to remove the treated gaseous feed. The guard bed system has two or more guard bed vessels arranged in series in sequential order, each having an inlet, a bed of guard bed material and an outlet. The inlet of each guard bed vessel is attached by means of valves to both the feed line and the outlet of the guard bed vessel preceding it in sequential order. The outlet of each guard bed vessel is attached by means of valves to both the effluent line and to the inlet of the guard bed vessel following it in sequential order.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene comprising steps of: a) supplying a gas composition to an alkylene oxide absorber through a gas inlet, the absorber comprising an absorption section and a sump, and allowing the gas composition to pass upwards; b) supplying a lean absorbent to the top of the absorption section and allowing the lean absorbent to pass downwards; c) intimately contacting the gas composition with lean absorbent in the absorption section in the presence of one or more catalysts that promote carboxylation and hydrolysis; and d) withdrawing fat absorbent from the absorption section and passing the fat absorbent and any liquid condensate through the sump, wherein the sump comprises one or more baffles that define a flow pathway from a sump inlet to a sump outlet between the one or more baffles.

Abstract: A process for producing ethylene glycol and/or ethylene carbonate, said process comprising contacting at least a portion of a recycle gas stream comprising an alkyl iodide impurity with a guard bed system positioned upstream of an ethylene oxide reactor to produce a treated recycle gas stream, wherein the guard bed system comprises silver on alumina; contacting an epoxidation feed stream comprising an ethylene feed stream, oxygen, chloride moderator, and at least a portion of the treated recycle gas stream with an epoxidation catalyst in the ethylene oxide reactor to produce an epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide; and contacting at least a portion of the epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide with a liquid absorbent in the presence of an iodide-containing catalyst in an absorber to produce a product stream comprising ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol and the recycle gas stream comprising the alkyl iodide impurity.

Abstract: The invention provides a reaction system for the production of ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol. The reaction system having a guard bed system upstream of a catalytic EO reactor. The guard bed system having a feed line supplying a gaseous feed and an effluent line configured to remove the treated gaseous feed. The guard bed system has two or more guard bed vessels arranged in series in sequential order, each having an inlet, a bed of guard bed material and an outlet. The inlet of each guard bed vessel is attached by means of valves to both the feed line and the outlet of the guard bed vessel preceding it in sequential order. The outlet of each guard bed vessel is attached by means of valves to both the effluent line and to the inlet of the guard bed vessel following it in sequential order.

Abstract: The invention provides a reaction system for the production of ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol. The system having a guard bed system upstream of a catalytic EO reactor. The guard bed system having a feed line supplying a gaseous feed to be treated and an effluent line configured to remove the treated gaseous feed. The guard bed system has two or more guard bed vessels arranged in series in sequential order, each having an inlet, a bed of guard bed material and an outlet. The inlet of each guard bed vessel is attached by means of valves to both the feed line and the outlet of the guard bed vessel preceding it in sequential order. The outlet of each guard bed vessel is attached by means of valves to both the effluent line and to the inlet of the guard bed vessel following it in sequential order.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing ethylene glycol and/or ethylene carbonate, said process comprising contacting at least a portion of a recycle gas stream comprising an alkyl iodide impurity with a guard bed system positioned upstream of an ethylene oxide reactor to produce a treated recycle gas stream, wherein the guard bed system comprises silver on alumina; contacting a feed gas stream comprising ethylene, oxygen and at least a portion of the treated recycle gas stream with an epoxidation catalyst in the ethylene oxide reactor to produce an epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide; and contacting at least a portion of the epoxidation reaction product comprising ethylene oxide with an aqueous absorbent in the presence of an iodide-containing catalyst in an absorber to produce an aqueous product stream comprising ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol and the recycle gas stream comprising the alkyl iodide impurity.

Abstract: Processes for producing ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided. Specifically, a process is provided that comprises supplying an overhead absorber stream withdrawn from an absorber to a vapor-liquid separator to yield an aqueous bottoms stream and a recycle gas stream; supplying an aqueous process stream comprising one or more impurities to a distillation apparatus to yield an overhead impurities stream and a purified aqueous process stream; supplying at least a portion of the purified aqueous process stream and an ethylene oxide product stream to the absorber; and contacting the ethylene oxide product stream with the purified aqueous process stream in the absorber in the presence of one or more carboxylation and hydrolysis catalysts to yield a fat absorbent stream comprising ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol.

Abstract: Processes for reducing the amount of a gaseous iodide-containing impurity present in a recycle gas stream used in the production of ethylene oxide, in particular alkyl iodide and vinyl iodide impurities, are provided. Processes for producing ethylene oxide, ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided.

Abstract: Processes for reducing the amount of a gaseous iodide-containing impurity present in a recycle gas stream used in the production of ethylene oxide, in particular an alkyl iodide impurity, are provided. Processes for producing ethylene oxide, ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and an apparatus for quantitatively analyzing a gaseous process stream, in particular a stream from a process for producing ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, in particular where such stream comprises gaseous organic iodides.

Abstract: Processes for producing ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided. Specifically, a process is provided that comprises supplying an overhead absorber stream withdrawn from an absorber to a vapor-liquid separator to yield an aqueous bottoms stream and a recycle gas stream; supplying an aqueous process stream comprising one or more impurities to a distillation apparatus to yield an overhead impurities stream and a purified aqueous process stream; supplying at least a portion of the purified aqueous process stream and an ethylene oxide product stream to the absorber; and contacting the ethylene oxide product stream with the purified aqueous process stream in the absorber in the presence of one or more carboxylation and hydrolysis catalysts to yield a fat absorbent stream comprising ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene is provided, along with an absorber apparatus. The process comprises: supplying a gas composition to an absorber comprising a column of vertically stacked trays, wherein each of the vertically stacked trays comprises: a perforated gas-liquid contacting member or members, a liquid inlet area, an outlet weir extending vertically above a surface of the tray at an opposite end of the tray from the liquid inlet area and having a height of at least 200 mm and at most 1500 mm, and a downcomer element which, in cooperation with an inner surface of a wall of the column, forms a downcomer for the passage of liquid downwardly to the liquid inlet area of an adjacent vertically stacked tray below, and allowing the gas composition to pass upwards through the alkylene oxide absorber.

Abstract: The invention provides a reaction system for the production of ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol. The reaction system having a guard bed system upstream of a catalytic EO reactor. The guard bed system having a feed line supplying a gaseous feed and an effluent line configured to remove the treated gaseous feed. The guard bed system has two or more guard bed vessels arranged in series in sequential order, each having an inlet, a bed of guard bed material and an outlet. The inlet of each guard bed vessel is attached by means of valves to both the feed line and the outlet of the guard bed vessel preceding it in sequential order. The outlet of each guard bed vessel is attached by means of valves to both the effluent line and to the inlet of the guard bed vessel following it in sequential order.