Ethylene Oxide

C₂H₄O · 44.05 g/mol

C₂H₄O

Highly reactive intermediate for glycols and surfactants

Molecular Weight

44.05 g/mol

State

Gas

Catalyst

Silver on α-Alumina

Reactor

Shell-and-tube reactor w

Ethylene Oxide molecular structure — 2D structure

Olefinverbund Integration

Inputs

Ethylene, **Oxygen** (Feedstock)

→

Product

Ethylene Oxide

→

Outputs

Ethylene Glycol, Ethanolamines, Polyols

Chemistry & Engineering

Reaction	`C₂H₄ + 0.5 O₂ → C₂H₄O`
Thermodynamics	Exothermic; competes with full combustion
Catalyst	Silver on α-Alumina
Reactor class	Shell-and-tube reactor with coolant circulation
Note	Explosion hazard. Selectivity is critical (~90%).

Applications

Ethylene glycol production
Ethoxylated surfactants
Ethanolamine synthesis
Sterilization agent

Extraterrestrial Production Pattern

Ethylene + O₂ over silver catalyst (Ag/Al₂O₃)
Operating at 200-300°C and 10-20 bar
Promoted with Cs and Cl for selectivity
Absorption and distillation for purification

Reaction Diagram

C2H4 + 1/2 O2 -> C2H4O

Unit Operations

Process steps following chemical engineering unit operation principles

#	Operation	Description
1	Feed Mixing	Mix ethylene with air/oxygen (2-8% C₂H₄)
2	Catalytic Oxidation	Fixed-bed reactor with Ag/Al₂O₃ catalyst at 200-300°C
3	Absorption	Absorb EO in water from reactor effluent
4	Stripping	Strip EO from water with steam
5	Purification	Distill to remove CO₂ and aldehydes
6	Recycle	Return unreacted ethylene to reactor

S88 Batch Control Model

ISA-88 BatchML schema — simplified for educational purposes

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!-- ISA-88 Batch Control Model for Ethylene Oxide -->
<!-- Educational schema - simplified for demonstration -->
<BatchML xmlns="http://www.wbf.org/xml/B2MML-V0600">
  
  <ProcessCell ID="EO_SYNTHESIS_CELL">
    <Description>Process cell for Ethylene Oxide production</Description>
    
    <Unit ID="EO_SYNTHESIS">
      <Description>Main synthesis unit</Description>
      
      <!-- Equipment Modules -->
      <EquipmentModule ID="MIXER">
        <Description>Mixer</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="REACTOR">
        <Description>Reactor</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="ABSORBER">
        <Description>Absorber</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="STRIPPER">
        <Description>Stripper</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="DISTILLATION">
        <Description>Distillation</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="RECYCLE_COMPRESSOR">
        <Description>Recycle Compressor</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
    </Unit>
  </ProcessCell>
  
  <MasterRecipe ID="EO_SYNTHESIS_RECIPE">
    <Description>Master recipe for Ethylene Oxide</Description>
    <ProductID>ETHYLENE_OXIDE</ProductID>
    
    <UnitProcedure ID="EO_SYNTHESIS_UP">
      <Description>Unit procedure for synthesis</Description>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_01">
        <Description>Operation 1</Description>
        <Phase ID="MIX">
          <Description>Mix phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_02">
        <Description>Operation 2</Description>
        <Phase ID="OXIDIZE">
          <Description>Oxidize phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_03">
        <Description>Operation 3</Description>
        <Phase ID="ABSORB">
          <Description>Absorb phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_04">
        <Description>Operation 4</Description>
        <Phase ID="STRIP">
          <Description>Strip phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_05">
        <Description>Operation 5</Description>
        <Phase ID="PURIFY">
          <Description>Purify phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_06">
        <Description>Operation 6</Description>
        <Phase ID="RECYCLE">
          <Description>Recycle phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
    </UnitProcedure>
  </MasterRecipe>
  
</BatchML>

Process CellPhysical grouping of all production equipment

UnitMajor equipment performing the synthesis

Equipment ModulesIndividual devices: reactors, columns, absorbers

PhasesLowest control level: REACT, SEPARATE, PURIFY

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