NEW ELECTROCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL

ETHYLENE GLYCOL (EG) IS AN IMPORTANT COMMODITY CHEMICAL WITH A PRODUCTION VOLUME OF ABOUT 6 MILLION LBS/YEAR AND MAJOR MARKETS IN POLYESTERS AND ANTIFREEZE. EG IS MANUFACTURED CHEMICALLY FROM PETROLEUM BASED ETHYLENE. AN ALTERNATIVE ELECTROCHEMICAL ROUTE IS AVAILABLE FROM FORMALDEHYDE OR METHANOL. THE NEW ELECTROCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY IS BASED ON AN UNDIVIDED CELL CONFIGURATION AND NOVEL ELECTRODE PROCESSING METHODS, AND IS EXPECTED TO LEAD TO A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN THE CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS REQUIRED FOR RUNNING THE PROCESS. IN ADDITION, THE NEW APPROACH GREATLY SIMPLIFIES THE PROCESS AND, THEREBY, REDUCES THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH RECOVERY OF THE PRODUCT AND RECYCLE OF THE ELECTROLYTE. ECONOMIC ESTIMATES SHOW THAT THESE NEW TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS WILL MAKE THE PROCESS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE WITH THE COMPETING ETHYLENE BASED PROCESS.