Process for producing ethylene glycol
AssigneeRedox Technologies Inc.
InventorJohn Kollar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ethylene glycol is prepared by reacting methanol and an organic peroxide of the formula R--O--O--R.sub.1, wherein R and R.sub.1 are each an alkyl or aralkyl group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, in the presence of a minor amount of a basic material. Preferably, formaldehyde is present as a reactant in the presence of water. The presence of the basic material reduces the hydrogen ions which are formed and thus reduces the amount of methylal produced.
Claims26
In a process for producing ethylene glycol by reacting methanol and an organic peroxide, said peroxide having the formula R--O--O--R.sub.1 wherein R and R.sub.1 each is an alkyl or aralkyl group containing from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, the improvement comprising adding to the reactants a basic material in an amount sufficient to reduce the hydrogen ions that are being formed in the reaction without unduly reducing the ethylene glycol production due to by-product formation.
In a process for producing ethylene glycol by reacting methanol, an organic peroxide and formaldehyde in the presence of water, said organic peroxide having the formula R--O--O--R.sub.1, wherein R and R.sub.1 each is an alkyl or aralkyl group containing 3 to 12 carbon atoms, the improvement comprising adding to the reactants, a basic material in an amount sufficient to reduce the hydrogen ions that are being formed in the reaction without unduly reducing the ethylene glycol production due to by-product formation.
In a process for producing ethylene glycol by reacting methanol, di-tertiary-butyl peroxide, formaldehyde and water, the improvement comprising adding to the reactants, a basic material in an amount sufficient to reduce the hydrogen ions that are being formed in the reaction without unduly reducing the ethylene glycol production due to by-product formation in the presence of water from about 0.5 to about 35 weight percent based on the total reaction mixture.
In a process for producing ethylene glycol by reacting methanol, di-tertiary-butyl peroxide, formaldehyde and water, the improvement comprising adding to the reactants, a basic material in an amount sufficient to reduce the hydrogen ions that are being formed in the reaction without unduly reducing the ethylene glycol production due to by-product formation in the presence of di-tertiary-butyl peroxide from about 0.25 to about 6 weight percent based on the total reaction mixture.
In a process for producing ethylene glycol by reacting methanol, di-tertiary-butyl peroxide, formaldehyde and water, the improvement comprising adding to the reactants, a basic material in an amount sufficient to reduce the hydrogen ions that are being formed in the reaction without unduly reducing the ethylene glycol production due to by-product formation in the presence of water from about 0.5 to about 35 weight percent based on the total reaction mixture and di-tertiary-butyl peroxide from about 0.25 to about 6 weight percent based on the total reaction mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.