Process for low pressure synthesis of ethylene glycol from synthesis gas

Patent · Mon Jan 20 23:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6127174

Knifton, J F; Duranleau, R G

This patent describes a low pressure process for making ethylene glycol. The process consists of: a reacting synthesis gas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, plus formaldehyde or paraformaldehyde in the presence of a catalyst containing an effective amount of cobalt-containing compound, a hologen-free silicon-containing promoter containing at least one silicon-carbon bond per molecule, and a solvent. The solvent is selected from the group consisting of an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, a halogenated aromatic-containing solvent and a solvent containing both the halogen and either functions, at a temperature of at least 50/sup 0/C and a pressure of at least 500 psig. The majority of the ethylene glycol product separates as a separate liquid phase from the cobalt catalyst-rich solvent phase.

• Assignee: Texaco Inc., White Plains, NY
• Patent Number(s): US 4565896
• OSTI ID: 6127174
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

090221* -- Alcohol Fuels-- Chemical Synthesis-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
AROMATICS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
COBALT COMPOUNDS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
FORMALDEHYDE
GASES
GLYCOLS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MEDIUM PRESSURE
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SOLVENTS
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHESIS GAS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS