Continuous process for preparing ethylene glycol from a carbohydrate source

Abstract

Ethylene glycol is prepared from a carbohydrate source by reaction of the carbohydrate source with hydrogen in a continuous process, wherein hydrogen, the carbohydrate source and a liquid diluent are continuously fed into a continuous stirred tank reactor wherein a catalyst system is present, which catalyst system comprises a tungsten compound and at least one hydrogenolysis metal selected from the groups 8, 9 or 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, to achieve the reaction between the carbohydrate source and hydrogen to ethylene glycol; wherein continuously a product mixture comprising ethylene glycol and diluent is removed from the continuous stirred tank reactor; and wherein continuously or periodically further at least a tungsten compound is added to the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.