Electrosynthesis of ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol using ethylene diffusion electrodes

• Grant number: 06/03493-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2006
• End date: December 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Rodnei Bertazzoli
• Grantee: Rodnei Bertazzoli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica (FEM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ethylenoglicol is na organic compound used as anti-freezing, in the composition of hydraulic fluids and in the manugacturing of polymers as PBT, PC and PET. Ethylenoglicol is produced by reaction of ethylene oxide and water at 60 oC. the proposal of this project is to stablish an electrochemical route for ethyleneglicol synthesis. The idea is to use ethylene as the main reagent which will be converted to ethylene oxide on a ethylene diffusion eletrode. On the oposite surface of the electrode, discharge of water produces oxygen for the reaction with ethylene. In aqueous media, ethylene oxide is immediately converted to ethyleneglicol. The process will be optimized by evaluating the concentration of ethyleneglicol in solution and its by-products as a function of cell potential, ethylene flow rate and mass of silver catalyst incorporated into the electrode. (AU)