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Equilibria in the hydration of ethylene at elevated pressures and temperatures
Author(s) -
Cope C. S.,
Dodge B. F.
Publication year - 1959
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690050104
Subject(s) - chemistry , ethylene , thermodynamics , ether , ethanol , dimethyl ether , sulfuric acid , chemical equilibrium , ethylene glycol , catalysis , organic chemistry , physics
Abstract Values of equilibrium composition for the hydration of ethylene to form ethanol have been calculated for a series of elevated pressures and temperatures by using equilibrium data available from previous low‐pressure studies. To obtain satisfactory agreement between these values and those measured experimentally, it is essential ( 1 ) to take into account the formation of ethyl ether and ( 2 ) to use available vapor‐liquid equilibrium data for the binary ethanol‐water system at elevated temperatures, instead of the standard “mixture rules” often employed. Thermochemical data and low‐pressure equilibrium data for both the ethylene hydration and ether formation reactions are critically reviewed. Experimentally measured values for the equilibrium concentrations of ethanol and ether in the liquid phase at 221°C. and 273 atm., with dilute sulfuric acid used as catalyst in a lined rocking‐bomb reactor, are presented.