A comparative study of mono ethylene glycol economic production via different techniques
Abstract Mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) is a high-volume chemical intermediate used as a raw material for a variety of chemical products. It could also be used as a hydrate inhibitor in natural gas. Recently, the importance of MEG has been increased due to its usage as a supporting emulsifier in diesel...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77713-y |
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| author | Walaa M. Shehata Taha G. Nady Fatma K. Gad Abeer M. Shoaib Ahmed A. Bhran |
| author_facet | Walaa M. Shehata Taha G. Nady Fatma K. Gad Abeer M. Shoaib Ahmed A. Bhran |
| author_sort | Walaa M. Shehata |
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| description | Abstract Mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) is a high-volume chemical intermediate used as a raw material for a variety of chemical products. It could also be used as a hydrate inhibitor in natural gas. Recently, the importance of MEG has been increased due to its usage as a supporting emulsifier in diesel engines to reduce NOx and soot emissions, in addition to its usage as an additive to dual fuel diesel engines. The increase consumption of MEG in wide range of applications leads to the search for the most efficient, environmental friendly and cost effective technique to produce more quantities of it. MEG is most commonly manufactured via the hydration of ethylene oxide (EO). In this work, two different technologies of EO hydration to produce MEG are compared; the direct hydration of EO with water and the indirect hydration through the usage of ethylene carbonate (EC) as an intermediate. Comparative economic and environmental impact assessments were performed based on plant-scale simulations (per 600,000 tons per year of MEG produced) of the two hydration technologies using Aspen HYSYS version 11 simulation software. Economic analysis showed that the utilities’ energy consumption for direct hydration process is significantly higher than for indirect hydration by 279 megawatts. On the other hand, the environmental impact assessments showed that GHG emissions from natural gas power generation from utilities from direct hydration are three times greater than GHG emissions from indirect hydration. This leads to indirect hydration of ethylene oxide through ethylene carbonate formation being considered economically and environmentally preferable compared to the direct hydration process of ethylene oxide. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c0bee8266da141a9aeb5cee4617d2f692025-08-20T02:33:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111910.1038/s41598-024-77713-yA comparative study of mono ethylene glycol economic production via different techniquesWalaa M. Shehata0Taha G. Nady1Fatma K. Gad2Abeer M. Shoaib3Ahmed A. Bhran4Petroleum Refining and Petrochemical Engineering Department Faculty of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Suez University, P.O. Box: 43221United Gas Derivative CompanyPetroleum Refining and Petrochemical Engineering Department Faculty of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Suez University, P.O. Box: 43221Petroleum Refining and Petrochemical Engineering Department Faculty of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Suez University, P.O. Box: 43221Chemical Engineering Department College of Engineering, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic UniversityAbstract Mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) is a high-volume chemical intermediate used as a raw material for a variety of chemical products. It could also be used as a hydrate inhibitor in natural gas. Recently, the importance of MEG has been increased due to its usage as a supporting emulsifier in diesel engines to reduce NOx and soot emissions, in addition to its usage as an additive to dual fuel diesel engines. The increase consumption of MEG in wide range of applications leads to the search for the most efficient, environmental friendly and cost effective technique to produce more quantities of it. MEG is most commonly manufactured via the hydration of ethylene oxide (EO). In this work, two different technologies of EO hydration to produce MEG are compared; the direct hydration of EO with water and the indirect hydration through the usage of ethylene carbonate (EC) as an intermediate. Comparative economic and environmental impact assessments were performed based on plant-scale simulations (per 600,000 tons per year of MEG produced) of the two hydration technologies using Aspen HYSYS version 11 simulation software. Economic analysis showed that the utilities’ energy consumption for direct hydration process is significantly higher than for indirect hydration by 279 megawatts. On the other hand, the environmental impact assessments showed that GHG emissions from natural gas power generation from utilities from direct hydration are three times greater than GHG emissions from indirect hydration. This leads to indirect hydration of ethylene oxide through ethylene carbonate formation being considered economically and environmentally preferable compared to the direct hydration process of ethylene oxide.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77713-yMEG TechnologyEthylene OxideEthylene CarbonateEconomic Analysis |
| spellingShingle | Walaa M. Shehata Taha G. Nady Fatma K. Gad Abeer M. Shoaib Ahmed A. Bhran A comparative study of mono ethylene glycol economic production via different techniques Scientific Reports MEG Technology Ethylene Oxide Ethylene Carbonate Economic Analysis |
| title | A comparative study of mono ethylene glycol economic production via different techniques |
| title_full | A comparative study of mono ethylene glycol economic production via different techniques |
| title_fullStr | A comparative study of mono ethylene glycol economic production via different techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comparative study of mono ethylene glycol economic production via different techniques |
| title_short | A comparative study of mono ethylene glycol economic production via different techniques |
| title_sort | comparative study of mono ethylene glycol economic production via different techniques |
| topic | MEG Technology Ethylene Oxide Ethylene Carbonate Economic Analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77713-y |
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