CHAPTER XI

MATERIAL BALANCE

In Hydrolysis of Ethylene oxide to produce Ethylene glycol, material balance can

be carried out between the reactants and the products. Ethylene oxide and water will be

introduced to the plug flow reactor (PFR) and products such as Mono Ethylene Glycol

(MEG), Water, Higher glycol (Diethylene Glycol) will be expected to produce.

Plug Flow Reactor (PFR)

For the system of Plug Flow reactor, the operating temperature to be use is 105
0
C with a pressure of 1.5 MPa. In addition, 98% selectivity and conversion will be utilized

in the reaction.

Ethylene Oxide Mono Ethylene Glycol

= 9252.60 kg. =330.8864 kg. - 13.64%
19.65 % = 5.33 kmol - 4.38%
= 210 kmol. Desired:
9.09% = 324.2687 kg. - 98%
= 5.2234 kmol. -
REACTOR
Undesired:
Water Temp. = 1050C
=6.6177 kg. - 2%
= 37 842.00 Pressure=1.5 MPa = 0.1066 kmol. -
kg. Conversion=98%
Water
80.35 % Selectivity= 98% = 2094.7766 kg. - 86.36%
= 2100 kmol. =116.2473 kmol. - 95.62 %
90.91 %

Molecular Weight:
Ethylene Oxide (C2H4O) = 44.06 kg
Water (H2O) = 18.02 kg
Mono Ethylene Glycol (C2H6O2) = 62.08 kg

REACTION: C2H4O + H2O ---- > C2H6O2

SELECTIVITY= 98 %
Moles of MEG reacted in the plug flow reactor = 5.33 kmol
Moles of undesired MEG formed = 5.33 (0.02) = 0.1066 kmol
Moles of desired MEG formed = 5.33 (0.98) = 5.2234 kmol
PREPARATION OF MONOETHYLENE GLYCOL (MEG) Chapter XI
VIA HYDROLYSIS OF ETHYLENE OXIDE Material Balance
Balitaan, R.M.A., Fabregar, N.C.M., Maibo, M.I., Panaligan, K.Z., Reyes, M.B.

FEED IN THE REACTOR:

Material Balance on C2H4O:
moles of C2H4O fed to reactor = moles of C2H4O reacted + moles
C2H4O unreacted
moles of C2H4O unreacted= 0.22
moles of C2H4O reacted = 210- 0.22= 209.78
Material Balance on Water:
moles of water fed to reactor = moles of water reacted + moles water
unreacted
moles of water unreacted = 2100-5.2234 kmol
moles of water unreacted= 2094.7766 kmol

MATERIAL BALANCE OVER REACTOR

Component IN, kg OUT, kg
Ethylene Oxide
9 252.60 -
(C2H4O)
Water (H2O) 37 842.00 2094.7766
Mono Ethylene
- 330.8864
Glycol (C2H6O2)

33
PREPARATION OF MONOETHYLENE GLYCOL (MEG) Chapter XI
VIA HYDROLYSIS OF ETHYLENE OXIDE Material Balance
Balitaan, R.M.A., Fabregar, N.C.M., Maibo, M.I., Panaligan, K.Z., Reyes, M.B.

34