Ethylene Glycol Catalytic Hydration of Ethylene Oxide
2026-02-12
Ethylene Glycol Catalytic Hydration of Ethylene Oxide
To address the shortcomings of the direct hydration process, major companies have dedicated efforts to the research and development of ethylene glycol catalytic hydration technology for ethylene oxide. Despite significant work in this area, the water ratio has been greatly reduced, and both conversion rate and selectivity have been improved. However, issues remain in catalyst preparation, regeneration, and lifespan. For example, some catalysts exhibit insufficient stability, complex preparation procedures, and are difficult to recover and reuse. Additionally, certain catalysts may leave residual metal ions in the product, requiring additional separation equipment. Consequently, large-scale industrialization of this method is still pending.
To address the shortcomings of the direct hydration process, major companies have dedicated efforts to the research and development of ethylene glycol catalytic hydration technology for ethylene oxide. Despite significant work in this area, the water ratio has been greatly reduced, and both conversion rate and selectivity have been improved. However, issues remain in catalyst preparation, regeneration, and lifespan. For example, some catalysts exhibit insufficient stability, complex preparation procedures, and are difficult to recover and reuse. Additionally, certain catalysts may leave residual metal ions in the product, requiring additional separation equipment. Consequently, large-scale industrialization of this method is still pending.