Argon ethylene oxide purge

In the process the preheated reactants, inerts (diluent methane and recycled CO2), and promoters are fed into the multi-tubular reactor The gas stream leaving the reactor is cooled by an external heat exchanger and sent to the ethylene oxide absorber column. In this column the relatively small amounts of ethylene oxide (concentration 1-2 mol.%) are absorbed in water. A minor part of the gas leaving the top of the absorber is purged to reduce the inerts concentration (mainly CO2, argon, and methane). The rest of the gas stream is sent to the CO2 absorber unit. 

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