Page -2” of Attachment C 
Fermentation processes are less subject to catastrophic 
ACCIDENTS (EXPLOSION, FIRE) THAN ARE MANY PETROCHEMICAL 
OPERATIONS, BUT CAN, OF COURSE, BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WITH 
REGARD TO CHRONIC EXPOSURE. HERE AGAIN, THOUGH, SINCE 
FERMENTATION HAS BEEN USED ON A LARGE SCALE FOR MANY YEARS, 
PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED WHICH HAVE KEPT ACCIDENTS TO A 
VERY LOW MINIMUM. 
Petrochemical Processes 
Typical of such operations are the preparation of ethyl 
ALCOHOL FROM ETHYLENE, AND THE PREPARATION OF ETHYLENE OXIDE 
AND ETHYLENE GLYCOL FROM THE SAME STARTING MATERIAL: 
Ethyl. A lcohol 
1. C 2 Hi) + h 2 o catalyst > c h 5 oh 
Catalysts are phosphoric acid, aluminum oxide gel, or 
TUNGSTIC ACID ON SILICA GEL, 
Temperatures may reach 400° C, and there may be pressures 
up to 1000 psig, 
At such extreme temperatures and pressures, failure of reaction 
VESSELS OR LINES WOULD INDEED BE CATASTROPHIC WITH EXPLOSION AND 
FIRE PROBABLE. 
2. 3C 2 H I| + 2H 2 S0 4 > C 2 H 5 H S0* + (C 2 H 5 ) 2 SO^ 
The ethyl sulfates are then hydrolyzed to ethyl alcohol 
AND SULFURIC ACID. HERE AGAIN, HIGH TEMPERATURES AND 
PRESSURES ARE INVOLVED, WITH CONSEQUENT DISASTROUS EFFECTS 
IN CASE OF REACTOR FAILURE. 
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