IMPROVED METHOD OF ETHYLENE OXIDE EXTRACTION Russian patent published in 2014 - IPC C07D301/32 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to improved method of extraction of ethylene oxide (EO), intended for application as raw material for combined installations for production of ethyleneglycol and EO purification. In accordance with invention claimed method includes supply of steam-like flow of reaction products, containing EO, CO₂, formaldehyde and organic acidic compounds, first to bottom section of quenching zone and realisation in said bottom zone of contact of steam-like flow of reaction products with diluted water solution of alkaline hydroxide, where said alkaline hydroxide reacts with CO₂ with formation of carbonates and bicarbonates, which react and thus neutralise organic acidic admixtures, contact of subjected to wet purification steam-like flow of reaction products, output from top part of bottom section of quenching zone, with first mesh coagulant, further supply of steam-like flow of reaction products, which was subjected to said preliminary processing, into section with water washing, where it is washed with fresh technological water to absorb any caught alkaline quenching liquid and formaldehyde vapours, realisation of contact of washing water flow, output from bottom part of section of water washing, with first mesh coagulant and its supply into top part of bottom quenching zone, passing steam-like flow of reaction products, output from section of water washing, through second mesh coagulant and its supply into bottom part of absorber, EO, where it is subjected to countercurrent washing with recycled, EO-free technological water to absorb EO in order to obtain EO-containing absorbate; supply of first part, containing 15-75% of diluted, EO-containing absorbate from EO absorber directly into EO reabsorber/residual absorber, where additional amount of EO is absorbed from vapour of upper distillate of EO desorber with obtaining highly pure EO solution with specified EO concentration, intended for application as raw material for reaction of obtaining glycol and/or raw material for EO purification, and supply of second remaining part of diluted, EO-containing absorbate from EO absorber into EO desorber, where EO and absorbed non-condensable gases are completely desorbed by vapour and flow of bottom product, which does not contain EO, is cooled and recycled back into EO absorber.

EFFECT: increased degree of purity of extracted EO.

5 cl, 4 dwg