Process for producing ethylene oxide

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for producing ethylene oxide, comprising (a) cracking an ethane-comprising feed in a cracking zone under cracking conditions to obtain olefins including at least ethylene and hydrogen; (b) converting an oxygenate feedstock in an oxygenate-to-olefin zone to obtain olefins, including at least ethylene; providing at least part of the ethylene obtained in step (a) and /or (b) to an ethylene oxidation zone together with a feed containing oxygen and oxidizing ethylene to obtain at least ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide. At least part of the oxygenate feedstock is obtained by providing carbon dioxide obtained in step (c) and a feed containing hydrogen to an oxygenate synthesis zone and synthesizing oxygenates, which feed containing hydrogen comprises hydrogen obtained in step (a).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.