Description
Diethyl Ether is a family of ethers and organic compounds. It is a flammable, colorless and highly volatile liquid. It is commonly used as a solvent in laboratories and a starter fluid in some engines. Diethyl ether is a common solvent for the Grignard reaction, in addition to other reactions involving metal reagents. It is widely used in the chemical industry and as an aerosol propellant.
Diethyl ether was previously used as a general anesthetic until non-flammable drugs such as halothane were developed. It has been used as a recreational drug to induce intoxication. For decades, it is used as a source of energy in different countries such as China, Japan, Korea, Egypt and Brazil.
Diethyl Ether Production Process
The main reaction is as follows:
۲C۲H۵OH → (C۲H۵)۲O + H۲O
Diethyl ether can be produced both on a laboratory and industrial scale.
Ethanol is combined with a strong acid such as sulfuric acid. Strong sulfuric acid turns into hydronium ions (+H3O) in aqueous:
C2H5OH + H3O → C2H5OH2+ + H2O
A nuclear oxygen atom from deprotonated ethanol displaces a water molecule from a protonated or electrophilic ethanol molecule, producing water, a positive hydrogen, and diethyl ether:
+C2H5OH2+ + CH3CH2OH → C2H5OC2H5 + H2O + H
The reaction should be done at temperatures below 150 degrees. So that ethylene is not produced as a product in the reaction. Because at higher temperatures, ethanol will be dehydrated to form ethylene. This reaction to produce diethyl ether is reversible. Thus, an equilibrium is established between reactants and reaction products.
Aspen Hysys Simulation of Diethyl Ether Production
In this project, the production process of diethyl ether from ethanol is simulated in Aspen Hysys software. The figure below shows the process PFD.
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