Patent Analysis of Production of Ethylene Oxide by Pure Oxygen on Methane Ballast

Abstract

This article is devoted to the consideration of methods for the industrial production of ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide is produced in large quantities and is primarily used as an intermediate in the production of a number of industrial chemicals, the best known of which is ethylene glycol. The process of producing ethylene oxide is carried out by a direct vapor-phase oxidation process, in which ethylene is oxidized to ethylene oxide by air or oxygen and a silver catalyst at 10-30 atm (1–3 MPa) and 200-300 °C. Ethylene oxidation can be carried out in several ways: air, oxygen under nitrogen ballast, oxygen under methane ballast. The production of ethylene oxide is one of the most dynamically developing. In Russia, the leading place in the production of ethylene oxide is occupied by the enterprise PJSC Nizhnekamskniftekhim. In 2012, the installation for producing ethylene oxide was reconstructed. The reconstruction consisted of transferring the ethylene oxide synthesis stage to methane ballast conditions. A patent analysis was carried out to determine the relevance of this process.