Glycol Ethers
Manufacture of lower molecular weight ethoxylates and propoxylates is performed on glycol ether units. These flexible multipurpose plants, capable of producing a wide range of glycol ethers, have a combined capacity of over 200 ktpa. INEOS Oxide offers a full range of glycol ethers based on methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol and butanol.
Glycol ethers are produced via a high throughput, continuous process involving the reaction of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide in excess alcohols. In the distillation section the excess alcohol is removed and recycled to the reaction section. Further in the refining, the mono- di- and tri- EO or PO adducts are separated in the required product qualities.
Applications
Glycol ethers combine the solubility characteristics of both ethers and alcohols, as both functional groups (ether, hydroxyl) are present in the molecule. As a consequence, they are often used as solvents for surface coatings, inks and industrial cleaning fluids. Non-solvent applications include de-icing agents in jet fuels, fluids for hydraulic systems (particularly brake fluids) and chemical intermediates for specialty plasticisers and performance compounds.