METHOD OF ISOLATION OF MONO- AND DIETHYLENE GLYCOL BUTYL ETHERS FROM BUTYL ALCOHOL OXYETHYLATION PRODUCTS Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: chemical engineering. SUBSTANCE: reaction products, including, along with desired ethers, some amounts of non-converted butanol and ethylene oxide, monoethylene glycol, and diethylene glycol, are separated by distillation in in-series functioning rectification columns. First-column distillate containing ethylene oxide and butyl alcohol is returned into reactor, whereas first-column still residue, containing butyl alcohol, monoethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, mono- and diethylene glycol butyl ethers, is directed into second column, where butyl alcohol is distilled off and recycled into reactor. Second-column still residue is directed into third column, into which one of diethylene glycol homologues, namely triethylene glycol, is also fed. Third-column distillate monoethylene glycol butyl ether. Still residue from this column is directed into fourth column operated in periodic mode. First fraction from the latter is azeotropic mixture of monoethylene glycol and diethylene glycol butyl ether, second fraction is composed by diethylene glycol butyl ether only, and third fraction by mixture of the latter with diethylene glycol. This mixture is returned into still of the fourth rectification column for the next rectification operation. Fourth-column still residue is returned into the third rectification column. EFFECT: reduced power and raw material consumption. 2 cl, 1 dwg, 4 ex