Progress in synthesis of ethylene glycol through C-1 chemical industry routes

Ethylene glycol (EG) is an important industrial chemicals. It has attracted attention because it can be used to synthesize polyester resins and fibers. C-1 chemical industry routes have been explored for EG synthesis from syngas and coal as starting materials. It is suggested that such routes are more promising methods for EG synthesis than the use of petroleum is. The pertinent literature on EG synthesis through C-1 chemical industry routes are summarized. The methods include direct synthesis from syngas, carbonylation of formaldehyde, CO coupling reactions, hydroformylation of formaldehyde, and condensation of formaldehyde. (c) 2013, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.