ROLE OF ETHYLENE-OXIDE SOLUBILITY IN THE ETHOXYLATION PROCESSES

The role of ethylene oxide solubility in the ethoxylation processes ha s been studied for what concerns: the influence on the kinetics of the reaction and the behaviour in the different kinds of normally employe d reactors, in particular the influence on the reactor instability. Th e conclusions of the work are: (i) Henry's law, is a rough and unrelia ble model to describe ethylene oxide solubilities in a large range of pressures and temperatures, (ii) the predictive UNIFAC model can be ap plied to a few number of situations, (iii) the employment of NRTL (non random two liquids theory) and Wilson's models seem to be more reliab le, but many experimental data are necessary to evaluate the correct p arameters of the mentioned models. As it will be seen it is difficult to collect and interpret experimental, data. Nevertheless, the precisi on in the evaluation of ethylene oxide solubilities is fundamental for reactor design, simulation and safety.