Abstract: Ethylene glycol （EG），one of bulk chemicals has strategic significance for the basic industries and new industries. This paper reviews advances in novel technologies of synthesis of EG by using ethylene oxide （EO） as raw material. The processes for the production of EG via ethylene carbonate are discussed. A novel technology developed by Institute of Process Engineering，Chinese Academy of Sciences using ionic liquids as catalysts is called ILC process. The innovation of ILC process with independent intellectual property right is presented. Advantages of ILC process are as follows：①Low molar ratio of H2O/EO；②High selectivity of EG；③Low energy consumption；④Simple process；⑤Adjustment of product. ILC process is easily joined with the current ethylene oxide hydration plant. Novel technologies based on EO as raw material will dominate the production of EG in the future，as the price of EO becomes cheaper due to the technology of MTO （methanol to olefins） and commercial operation of new plants of EO/EG，and production experience of large-scale plant for many years.

Key words: ethylene glycol, ionic liquid, ethylene oxide, innovation

摘要： 乙二醇（EG）是一种重要的基础化工原料，乙二醇工业涉及国民经济的多个领域，对支撑国民经济基础产业和战略新兴产业具有重大战略意义。本文简要阐述了环氧乙烷法生产乙二醇的技术进展，着重介绍了离子液体催化环氧乙烷生产乙二醇的创新工艺（ILC工艺）。该工艺是我国具有自主创新知识产权和自主运作权的乙二醇新技术，具有工艺简单、水比低、节能效果显著、原料适应性强、产品结构可调等优点，与现有乙二醇工业装置有良好相嵌性，推广应用前景广阔。甲醇制烯烃技术（MTO）的推广应用和多套EO/EG装置的投产使环氧乙烷的原料价格更加低廉，而且石化企业具有几十年大型装置的生产经验，因此，采用创新性技术以环氧乙烷为原料生产乙二醇的路线将在为今后较长的时期占主导地位。

关键词: 乙二醇, 离子液体, 环氧乙烷, 技术创新