# US 9,518,036 B2 · Method for producing ethylene oxide

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- Number: US 9,518,036 B2
- Document ID: US9518036B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/781,245
- Filed: 2014-03-28
- Published: 2016-02-25
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-29
- Assignees: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Akimasa Watanabe; Takahiro Takinami; Noriji Morikawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518036B2

## CPC

- C07D 301/10: with catalysts containing silver or gold
- B01D 53/1406: {Multiple stage absorption}
- B01D 53/1475: {Removing carbon dioxide}
- B01D 53/1487: {Removing organic compounds}
- B01D 53/62: Carbon oxides
- B01D 53/78: with gas-liquid contact
- C07D 301/32: Separation; Purification
- B01D 2251/304: of sodium
- B01D 2251/306: of potassium
- B01D 2251/604: Hydroxides
- B01D 2252/103: Water
- B01D 2256/24: Hydrocarbons
- B01D 2257/504: Carbon dioxide
- B01D 2259/65: Employing advanced heat integration, e.g. Pinch technology
- Y02C 20/40: of CO2
- Y02P 20/10: Process efficiency
- Y02P 20/151: Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2
- Y02P 20/50: Improvements relating to the production of bulk chemicals
- C07D: HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS (macromolecular compounds C08)
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- Y02C: CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG]
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

[Problem] To provide a novel technology by which energy efficiency can be further improved in a process for producing ethylene oxide. [Solution] A method for producing ethylene oxide including: an ethylene oxidation reaction step in which ethylene is subjected to catalytic vapor-phase oxidation using a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a silver catalyst; supplying an ethylene oxide-containing reaction product gas produced in the ethylene oxidation reaction step to an ethylene oxide absorption column; bringing the reaction product gas into contact with an absorption liquid supplied to the ethylene oxide absorption column; supplying an ethylene oxide-containing column bottom liquid of the ethylene oxide absorption column to an ethylene oxide purification system; purifying ethylene oxide in the ethylene oxide purification system; supplying at least a part of a carbon dioxide gas-containing gas discharged from a column top part of the ethylene oxide absorption column to a carbon dioxide gas absorption column; extracting a carbon dioxide gas-rich absorption liquid obtained by contact of the carbon dioxide gas-containing gas with an absorption liquid as a column bottom liquid of the carbon dioxide gas absorption column; supplying the carbon dioxide gas-rich absorption liquid to an upper part of the carbon dioxide gas stripper column; stripping the carbon dioxide gas from the carbon dioxide gas-rich absorption liquid; and discharging the carbon dioxide gas from a column top part of the carbon dioxide gas stripper column as an exhaust gas, the ethylene oxide purification system including an ethylene oxide purification column provided with a reboiler in a lower part thereof, and a heating medium for heating the reboiler being heated by heat exchange with the exhaust gas.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing ethylene oxide comprising:
an ethylene oxidation reaction step in which ethylene is subjected to catalytic vapor-phase oxidation using a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a silver catalyst;
supplying an ethylene oxide-containing reaction product gas produced in the ethylene oxidation reaction step to an ethylene oxide absorption column;
bringing the reaction product gas into contact with an absorption liquid supplied to the ethylene oxide absorption column;
supplying an ethylene oxide-containing column bottom liquid of the ethylene oxide absorption column to an ethylene oxide purification system;
purifying ethylene oxide in the ethylene oxide purification system;
supplying at least a part of a carbon dioxide gas-containing gas discharged from a column top part of the ethylene oxide absorption column to a carbon dioxide gas absorption column;
extracting a carbon dioxide gas-rich absorption liquid obtained by contact of the carbon dioxide gas-containing gas with an absorption liquid as a column bottom liquid of the carbon dioxide gas absorption column;
supplying the carbon dioxide gas-rich absorption liquid to an upper part of the carbon dioxide gas stripper column;
stripping the carbon dioxide gas from the carbon dioxide gas-rich absorption liquid; and
discharging the carbon dioxide gas from a column top part of the carbon dioxide gas stripper column as an exhaust gas, wherein
the ethylene oxide purification system includes an ethylene oxide purification column provided with a reboiler in a lower part thereof, and
a heating medium for heating the reboiler is heated by heat exchange with the exhaust gas.