substance

Ethanol

Formula: C2H6O
CAS: 64-17-5
InChIKey: LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
ChEBI: CHEBI:16236

Show in the process graph →

Made by

Ethanol by direct hydration of ethylene (100 000 t/a anhydrous, phosphoric acid catalyst)Main productConcept · not reviewed

Used by

No process in the Atlas uses this yet.

When a process with this chemical is added to the library, it appears here.

Takes part in

C₂H₄+H₂Oin equilibrium withC₂H₆OProduct · one process

Routes compared

One route in the Atlas makes Ethanol: nothing to compare yet. A comparison appears when a second route is added.

Per 1 kg of Ethanol: inventory from each route's LCI dataset, unallocated; footprints per the functional unit of their own LCA.

Route	Tier, design maturity, review status	Geography, year	Energy	Feedstocks	Key emissions	Footprint	Comparability
Ethanol by direct hydration of ethylene (100 000 t/a anhydrous, phosphoric acid catalyst)vapour-phase direct hydration of ethylene over H3PO4 on silica (513-541 K, 7 MPa, 5 % conversion per pass), gas recycle with water scrubbing, light-ends and concentrating distillation, 3A molecular-sieve dehydration; 100 000 t/a	flowsheet or hand-writtenDesign maturity: Concept (research)Not independently reviewedDataset review: unreviewed	GLO, 2026	Electric power: 0.0551 kWh HP steam 4200 kPa(a): 0.371 kWh LP steam 450 kPa(a): 1.43 kWh	Polymer-grade ethylene from a steam cracker: 0.646 kg Demineralised make-up water: 0.678 kg Phosphoric acid make-up to the catalyst (as 100 % H3PO4): 0.001 kg Caustic soda for the acid neutralisation (as 100 % NaOH): 0.00082 kg Hydration catalyst (H3PO4 on silica), R-101 charge: 0.00015 kg Molecular sieve 3A (V-301 beds): 0.00006 kg	none	no footprint	–

ISO 14044 requires a critical review (by a panel of interested parties, ISO/TS 14071) of a comparative assertion intended to be disclosed to the public. These routes are listed side by side for screening; a statement that one is better than another needs that review. None of these routes has had such a review.