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Figure
Figure
The C-C bond is short and the bond angles strained. Ethylene Oxide is
highly reactive because of the strained ring that can easily be opened. The
three-membered ring is opened in most of its reactions. These reactions
are very exothermic because of the tremendous ring strain in ethylene
oxide.[2]
Ethylene oxide is a highly versatile commodity chemical, which is used as
an intermediate for the production of a variety of chemicals. It also kills
bacteria, mold, and fungi, and is therefore used as a sterilant. During
World War I, it gained importance in industry and was produced on a
small scale for its use in the production of ethylene glycol and the
chemical weapon mustard gas.[1]
the Asia-Pacific is the global leader in ethylene oxide demand and
contributed about 64% to total revenues in 2012. Together with Central
Europe, the Middle East and South America, the Asia-Pacific will drive up
demand for ethylene oxide in the next few years. North America and
Western Europe will make only a modest contribution as their mature
markets deliver sluggish growth.[5]
1. Background
Ethylene oxide was first prepared in 1859 by Charles Wutz using a
potassium hydroxide solution to eliminate the hydrochloric acid from
ethylene chlorohydrin. In 1914 the ethylene chlorohydrin process was the
first technology to produce ethylene oxide commercially. The process
involves the reaction of ethylene with hypochlorous acid followed by
dehydrochlorination of the resulting chlorohydrin with lime to produce
ethylene oxide and calcium chloride. Although the selectivity of this
process was approximately 80%, the process itself was very inefficient and
caused pollution problem by generating large quantity of unwanted
chlorinated hydrocarbon byproducts. In 1931, Theodore Lefort
discovered a way to prepare ethylene oxide directly from ethylene and
oxygen with a silver catalyst, the direct oxidation processes. This process
was more economically competitive and soon replaced the ethylene
chlorohydrin process.
The direct oxidation technology is the dominant process to produce
ethylene oxide commercially today. It utilizes the catalytic oxidation of
ethylene with pure oxygen over a silver based catalyst to yield ethylene
oxide.[1]
Physical properties:
is a colourless gas at room temperature, turns liquid below 12C, soluble
in organic solvents and miscible with water in all proportions. It is highly
flammable, with a flam- mable limit in air of 3-100%.[6]
(1)
cycle gas may enter the flammable region, and as a result of that the
oxygen concentration needs to be decreased in the cycle gas.[2]