Ethylene Oxide Lab Report

Applications of Ethylene Oxide Reaction of ethylene oxide with other inert gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen is used for the healthcare, publication and wood products sectors. Ethylene oxide is also used in other industries and in the manufacture of choline chloride, glycol ethers and polyglycols. Other minor uses world-wide include its application in the manufacture of rocket propellant and petroleum demulsifiers. (Petrochemicals Europe, 1985)

2.1. Ethylene Oxide used to produce ethylene glycol

*Introduction

Ethylene oxide majorly contributed in the production of ethylene glycol, which is used as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of polyesters for fibres, films, bottles etc. with a further 25% used as antifreeze in engine

The reaction takes place without catalyst and is significantly exothermic. Due to the high reactivity of ethylene oxide care must be taken that its conversion is complete. Alternative processes operate with highly concentrated ammonia. Since pure ammonia is gaseous under normal conditions, it is necessary to work under high pressure (50–70 bar) with this process. The formation of mono-, di- or triethanolamine depends thereby on whether an ammonia molecule reacts with one, two or three ethylene oxide molecules. The composition of the resulted mixture depends on the ratio of the raw materials and can be varied in a goal-oriented manner. The higher the proportion of ammonia, the more monoethanolamine is formed. (Sulzer,

During the processing of an ethoxylated compounds, a carcinogenic by product is created called 1,4-dioxane. Many ethoxylated compounds of fatty alcohols are used in detergents,surfactans,emulsifiers, cosmetic and dispersants and commonly contain traces of 1,4-dioxane. This carcinogen has been found in even in supposedly "natural" brands. (Greenwood]., 2009)

2.5 Other applications of ethylene oxide Ethylene oxide is used in the dried fruit industry to stop microbial spoilage in prunes and, presumably, these treatments are also insecticidal. For use as a sterilizing agent, ethylene oxide is available as an aerosol mixed with propellants of the Freon type. Ethylene oxide constitutes 11 percent of the mixture and may be discharged from the container without the risk of fire or explosion.

Vitamins of the B complex and some of the amino acids may be destroyed when exposed to ethylene oxide. However, drier conditions may reduce this effect. Charles et al (1965) found that, in a dry sterilization procedure where the efficiency of the treatment was satisfactory, the effect on vitamin B content was only slight in comparison to steam