Efficient use of Ethylene Oxide in Vinyl Sulphone Industry

Vinyl sulphone production includes mainly 4 unit processes which are Chlorosulphonation, Reduction, Condensation, and Esterification. Vinyl sulphone is the highest export dye intermediate. Vinyl sulphone industry in India received a set back in the late nineties due to world competition and insistence on environmental regulations by the controlling authorities. Excess of ethylene oxide is used in condensation, Which is hazardous and it is used in excess as large quantity of Ethylene oxide is reacted with water as a side reaction forming glycols, and also ethylene oxide is soluble in water. So ethylene oxide is wasted in water and increases the volume of reactor. This paper describes to minimize the quantity of water which is causing excess use of ethylene oxide in condensation reaction. Before condensation reaction there are two unit processes Chlorosulphonation and reduction from which we try to limit the quantity of water, so that water coming to condensation reaction is minimized to reduce the side reaction of ethylene oxide and water.