FIELD: chemistry.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method of producing ethylene glycol in a tubular reactor using raw material containing an oxalate and a catalyst containing copper and/or copper oxide, which includes bringing the raw material into contact with the catalyst in the reactor under the following conditions: temperature in the range of about 170 to about 270°C, hourly mass bulks speed of oxalate in the range of about 0.2 to about 5 h-1, molar ratio of hydrogen to oxalate in the range of about 40:1 to about 200:1 and reaction pressure in the range of about 1.5 to about 10 MPa in order to obtain an effluent containing ethylene glycol. The reactor employs partitioned heat exchange, as well as internal and external pipes configured in the form of a double-pipe structure to improve heat exchange of the catalyst.
EFFECT: high degree of converting oxalate and selectivity of ethylene glycol.
15 cl, 1 dwg, 8 ex
