Preparation of ethylene glycol

US4740525A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Robert Maerkl
• Werner Bertleff · Viernheim, DE
• Wolfgang Harder · Weinheim, DE
• Rudolf Kummer · Bischofswerda, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 26, 1986
• Grant date: Apr 26, 1988
• Expiry date: Aug 26, 2006

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/52
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Ethylene glycol is prepared from carbon monoxide and hydrogen in homogeneous liquid phase under superatmospheric pressure and at elevated temperature in the presence of a rhodium-containing catalyst and in the presence of an organic solvent, the organic solvent used being a C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -n-alkanol and the concentration of this alkanol, based on the total amount of the mixture, constantly being maintained at not less than 50% by weight.