PROCESS FOR THE CONVERSION OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL TO ETHYLENEDIAMINE EMPLOYING A ZEOLITE CATALYST

The present invention relates to a process for the conversion of ethane-1,2-diol to ethane-1,2-diamine and/or linear polyethylenimines of the formula H2N-[CH2CH2NH]n-CH2CH2NH2 wherein n≥1 comprising (i) providing a catalyst comprising a zeolitic material comprising YO2 and X2O3, wherein Y is a tetravalent element and X is a trivalent element, wherein the zeolitic material is selected from the group consisting of zeolitic materials having the MOR, FAU, CHA and/or GME framework structure, including combinations of two or more thereof; (ii) providing a gas stream comprising ethane-1,2-diol and ammonia; (iii) contacting the catalyst provided in (i) with the gas stream provided in (ii) for converting ethane-1,2-diol to ethane-1,2-diamine and/or linear polyethylenimines.