Physical And Chemical Properties Of Ethylene Glycol (MEG)

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1.1 INTRODUCTION
Ethylene glycol (IUPAC name: ethane-1,2-diol) is an organic compound with the formula (CH2OH)2. Monoethylene glycol (MEG), also known as ethylene glycol (EG) or simply glycol, is a diol mostly used for the production of polyester fibers and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resins. It is also used in antifreeze applications and in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. MEG is conventionally produced through the hydrolysis of ethylene oxide (EO), which itself is obtained via ethylene oxidation.
Molecular structure:

(Sources: Wikipedia, American Chemistry Council, Shel)

1.2 PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
The physical and chemical properties of ethylene glycol are listed in table below.
Table 1.2 Physical and chemical properties …show more content…

Table 1.3 Usage of ethylene glycol
Usage Description
As antifreeze and coolant. Ethylene glycol helps keep your car’s engine from freezing in the winter and acts as a coolant to reduce overheating in the summer.
Heat transfer fluids. Heat transfer fluids used as industrial coolants for gas compressors, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, and ice skating rinks.
As raw material Ethylene glycol also is used as a raw material in the production of a wide range of products including polyester fibers for clothes, upholstery, carpet and pillows. Fiberglass used in products such as jet skis, bathtubs, and bowling balls and polyethylene terephthalate resin used in packaging film and bottles. Many of these products are energy saving and cost efficient as well as recyclable.
Natural gas industry Ethylene glycol is used in the natural gas industry to remove water vapor from natural gas before further processing, in much the same manner as triethylene glycol (TEG)
(Source : The uses of ethylene glycol , American Chemistry …show more content…

Qatar, 1,600,000
(Source: Oil and Gas Journal)
2.4 PLANT CAPACITY
Ethylene glycol is widely used in many sectors such as production of polyester fibre, polyester resins and others. Due to the various usage of ethylene glycol, the high and increasing demand of ethylene glycol is expected.
Supply : 20,000 kilo tonnes per year
Demand : 22,815.4 kilo tonnes per year
Deficient : demand – supply = 22,815.4-20,000 = 2,815.4 kilo tonnes per year
The plant capacity of ethylene glycol is estimated to be 450 kilo tonnes per year. This plant will be in operation 8400 hours per year.
Plant capacity = (450,000 x 1000) / 8400 =53,571 kg/h

3.1 WASTE GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT
Waste is unwanted or unusable material. The production of ethylene glycol will produce monoethylene glycol (MEG) and three by-products which are diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG) and waste

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