Process for the preparation of ethylene glycol carbonate

A process for the catalytic preparation of ethylene glycol carbonate by reaction of ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide in ethylene glycol carbonate as the reaction medium at elevated temperature and elevated pressure with work-up to separate the resulting ethylene glycol carbonate from the catalyst, wherein

• a) the process is carried out continuously and adiabatically at a pressure of 2 to 200 bar and within a temperature range of 110.degree. to 200.degree. C., with an adiabatic temperature increase of 5 to 80.degree. C, the inlet temperature being selected in such a manner that the adiabatic temperature increase remains within the temperature range mentioned,
• b) the ethylene glycol carbonate running into the reactor per unit of time as reaction medium is 10 to 120 times the ethylene glycol carbonate formed in this unit of time,
• c) 1.01 to 1.3 mol of carbon dioxide are used per mole of ethylene oxide and a carbon dioxide excess is maintained at all sites of the reactor.
• d) 80 to 98% by weight of the total reaction mixture is returned to the inlet of the reactor and the remainder is worked up to give ethylene glycol carbonate.