To develop a cost-effective process for the production of 1 ton of ethylene glycol using a fixed-bed catalytic reactor, a chemical engineer should consider the following steps:1. Selection of raw materials: The most common raw material for the production of ethylene glycol is ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide can be produced from ethylene, which is derived from natural gas or naphtha. The cost of raw materials can be minimized by selecting a readily available and low-cost source of ethylene.2. Selection of catalyst: The choice of catalyst plays a crucial role in the efficiency and selectivity of the reaction. A suitable catalyst for the production of ethylene glycol from ethylene oxide is a silver-based catalyst, which has high activity and selectivity. The catalyst should be cost-effective and have a long lifetime to minimize the overall cost of the process.3. Process optimization: The reaction conditions, such as temperature, pressure, and feed composition, should be optimized to maximize the conversion of ethylene oxide to ethylene glycol and minimize the formation of by-products. This can be achieved through rigorous experimentation and modeling of the reaction kinetics.4. Reactor design: The fixed-bed catalytic reactor should be designed to ensure efficient contact between the reactants and the catalyst, as well as proper heat and mass transfer. The reactor should also be designed to minimize pressure drop and catalyst attrition. The choice of reactor internals, such as packing and support materials, can also impact the overall cost of the process.5. Separation and purification: The product stream from the reactor will contain ethylene glycol, water, unreacted ethylene oxide, and other by-products. A cost-effective separation and purification process should be designed to recover high-purity ethylene glycol. This can be achieved through a combination of distillation, absorption, and/or crystallization processes.6. Waste management and recycling: The process should be designed to minimize waste generation and maximize the recycling of unreacted ethylene oxide and other by-products. This can help reduce the overall cost of the process and minimize the environmental impact.7. Energy efficiency: The process should be designed to minimize energy consumption by optimizing heat integration, using energy-efficient equipment, and recovering waste heat wherever possible.8. Process control and automation: The implementation of advanced process control strategies and automation can help improve the efficiency and reliability of the process, reducing the overall cost of production.9. Scale-up and plant design: The process should be designed to be easily scalable to produce 1 ton of ethylene glycol per day. This includes considering the layout of the plant, equipment sizing, and utility requirements.By addressing these factors, a chemical engineer can develop a cost-effective process for the production of 1 ton of ethylene glycol using a fixed-bed catalytic reactor.