| abstract |
A method for the formation of monoalkyleneglycols, monoalkanolamines and alkylenediamines, comprising the steps of: (a) reacting ammonia or ammonium carbonate with an alkylenecarbonate to form a carbamate, (b) heating the carbamate to form a monoalkyleneglycol, an alkyleneurea and a 2-oxazolidinone, (c) further reacting the alkyleneurea and the 2-oxazolidinone with ammonium hydroxide to form ammonia or ammonium carbonate, a monoalkanolamine, and an alkylenediamine, (d) separating the ammonia or ammonium carbonate, the monoalkyleneglycol, the alkylenediamine, and the monoalkanolamine, and (e) recycling the ammonia or ammonium carbonate to reaction step (a). |