Method for producing ethyleneamines

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for preparing ethyleneamines and/or alkanolamines, comprising the following steps: 1) reacting MEG with ammonia in the presence of hydrogen and an amination catalyst; 2) removing hydrogen and ammonia from the reaction output from stage 1, wherein the removal of hydrogen and ammonia in stage 2 comprises the following steps: 2-1) separating the reaction output from stage 1 into a gaseous phase comprising ammonia and hydrogen, and a liquid phase comprising ethyleneamines and/or alkanolamines, 2-2) passing the gaseous phase from stage 2-1) through one or more condensers to obtain one or more liquid phases in which ammonia has been enriched, and a gaseous phase in which hydrogen has been enriched, 2-3) contacting the gaseous phase from stage 2-2) with MEG so as to obtain a liquid phase comprising MEG and ammonia and a gaseous phase comprising hydrogen and optionally ammonia.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.