361a30a2-2521-15e9-c613-000071c7496aEthylene oxideproduction mix, at plantProcessesIndustry dataPlasticsEurope//www.plasticseurope.org/plasticssustainability/eco-profiles.aspx101EU27 including NorwayAll processes are considererd including waste treatment of process wasteEthylene oxide (EO) is a key chemical intermediate to the manufacture of many products. The production of ethylene oxide started in 1937 with a Union Carbide process based on ethylene and air. In 1958, oxygen (rather than air) processes were introduced by Shell Development Company, and most European EO plants are now based on pure oxygen feedstock.
Ethylene glycols are produced by reacting EO with water. About 40 % of the EO production in Europe is converted into glycols. Globally the figure is even higher by about 70 % (BREF 2003). Therefore EO and ethylene glycols are mostly produced together at integrated plants.
The main product is monoethylene glycol (MEG), but diethylene glycol (DEG) and triethylene glycol (TEG) are also produced. MEG is mainly used for the manufacture of polyester fibres and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and some as antifreeze in cooling systems. DEG is used in the fibre industry and as tobacco humectant and TEG is used in the manufacture of cellophane for food packaging. DEG and TEG are both used for gas drying.
In practice most EO / EG plants are designed as integrated plants for a production mix of high purity ethylene oxide and glycols. Although there is a number of different EO / EG manufacturing process licensors, the process technologies are broadly similar.
Feedstock ethylene is typically received by pipeline from a steam cracker. The oxygen is regularly provided in pure form by pipeline from an air separation unit. The reaction between ethylene and oxygen is carried out in a multi-tubular fixed bed type reactor with a silver oxide catalyst in the tubes and a coolant on the shell side. The heat generated by the exothermic reactions is removed by the coolant, and is recovered by producing steam. The steam is used as a heating medium in various sections of the plant.Partly terminated systemOtherNoneOtherNoneNoneNoneNoneImport from ILCD to GaBi format:
# all emissions to water, unspecified interpreted as emissions to fresh water
# all emissions to soil, unspecified interpreted as emisssions to industrial soilNoneLiebich A. et. al. (2012)80.02,575 Kt in 2010 (share is estimated with at least 80% of European production)literature values based on European company surveys & European statisticsnoneAll relevant flows quantifiedPlastics EuropePlasticsEurope Eco-profilesThis eco-profile (LCI) is intended to be used as »cradle-to-gate« building blocks of life cycle assessment (LCA) studies of defined applications or products. LCA studies considering the full life cycle (»cradle-to-grave«) of an application or product allow for comparative assertions to be derived. It is essential to note that comparisons cannot be made at the level of the polymer or its precursors. In order to compare the performance of different materials, the whole life cycle and the effects of relevant life cycle parameters must be considered. It is intended to be used by member companies, to support product-orientated environmental management; by users of plastics, as a building block of life cycle assessment (LCA) studies of individual products; and by other interested parties, as a source of life cycle information.Liebich A.2016-01-01T00:00:00+01:00ILCD format 1.1Liebich A. et. al. (2012)thinkstep2016-01-01T00:00:00+01:0010.00.000Data set finalised; entirely publishedPlastics EuropetrueOtherGaBi (source code, database including extension modules and single data sets, documentation) remains property of thinkstep AG. thinkstep AG delivers GaBi licenses comprising data storage medium and manual as ordered by the customer. The license guarantees the right of use for one installation of GaBi. Further installations using the same license are not permitted. Additional licenses are only valid if the licensee holds at least one main license. Licenses are not transferable and must only be used within the licensee's organisation. Data sets may be copied for internal use. The number of copies is restricted to the number of licenses of the software system GaBi the licensee owns. The right of use is exclusively valid for the licensee. All rights reserved.Ethylene oxideOutput110.000Mixed primary / secondaryUnknown derivation