Production of Mono Ethylene Glycol by Hydrolysis of

Ethylene Oxide
Fawad Ashraf, M. Shehzad Ajmal, Muhammad Danish, Qamar Shoaib Khan
Chemical Engineers
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore

Abstract
This Project report deals with the design calculations of Mono Ethylene Glycol production from Ethylene Oxide as a
feed stock along with their relevant aspects such as instrumentation and process control, Hazop study and cost
estimation.

The subjected project is based on the

Introduction
Mono ethylene Glycol is one of the important
chemical used in all over the World; it is 26th
most produced material. Currently more than
65%of ethylene oxide produced in industry is
used in the production of ethylene glycol.
Mono ethylene glycol is use in the cooling
agent, lubricant and as a raw material for the

production of Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG)

by the hydrolysis of the Ethylene Oxide and
is converted into products by using the
tabular reactor whereas Ethylene Oxide is
manufactured by Oxidation of Ethylene Over
Sliver Catalytic bed in tubular reactor. The
project involves the designing of the reactor,
evaporator and distillation column.

production of polyester fibre. Ethylene glycol

demand has increased by 6-7% year 2004 and

Methodology

is expected to increase at this rate through

The process used in this report is Hydrolysis

2013.

of Ethylene Oxide. Ethylene oxide reacts

In Pakistan Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG) is

primarily being consumed as raw material for
manufacturing of polyester fibre. The
quantum of Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG) is
being consumed as anti- freezing agent is
very small. At present, all the requirement of
MEG is being met from imports.

with water to form ethylene glycol, and then

further reacts with ethylene glycol and higher
homologues in a series of consecutive
reactions.

Material and Energy Balances were applied

across following units:
1. Reactor 1
2. Reactor 2
3. Absorber
4. Stripper
5. Distillation Tower 1
6. Distillation Tower 2
7. Distillation Tower 3
8. Pumps
9. Storage Tanks
10. High Pressure Evaporator
11. Low Pressure Evaporator
12. Vacuum Evaporator
Equipment was also designed for all the
above mentioned steps.

Conclusion
Ethylene Glycol has a number of industrial
applications. Some are mentioned below
1. Heat Transfer Fluids
2. Chemical Intermediates

Adhesives and Coatings

Emulsifiers

Lubricants

Plasticizers

Polyurethane foams

Solvents

Silicon compounds

Thermoplastics

Unsaturated polyester
resins
3. Polyester Resins
4. Hydrate Inhibition
5. Coolant: as a de-icing fluid
The investment required for ethylene
glycol manufacturing plant is high but
different qualities can be produced and
then exported to get profits that can

justify the high value of initial

investment.

Reference

www.chemicalbooks.com

Ethylene

Oxide 2nd edition

Kern, D.Q: Process Heat Trasnfer,

McGrew- Hill Book Company,1950

Sinnot, R.K: Chemical Engineering

Design, Vol 6,3rd edition,Butterworth
2000

George

Stephnapoulos:

Chemical

Process Control, Asoke.K.Gohos