Lyondell Chemical Technology, L.p.

John H Speidel, Jr

Te Chang

Arsam Behkish

Jude T Ruszkay

Jay F Miller

Robert N Cochran

Peter J Whitman

Patrick N Crowe

This invention is a process for producing propylene oxide. The process comprises first contacting a titanium zeolite with a reaction feed comprising propylene, hydrogen peroxide, tertiary butyl alcohol, and water to produce a product stream comprising propylene, propylene oxide, propylene glycol, tertiary butyl alcohol, and water. The product stream is distilled to produce a first overhead stream comprising propylene and a first bottoms stream comprising propylene oxide, propylene glycol, tertiary butyl alcohol, and water. The first bottoms stream is distilled to produce a second overhead stream comprising propylene oxide and a second bottoms product stream comprising propylene glycol, tertiary butyl alcohol, and water. The second bottoms stream is distilled to produce a third overhead stream comprising an azeotrope of tertiary butyl alcohol and water and a third bottoms stream comprising propylene glycol and water.

Epoxidation process

A process for making propylene oxide from propylene is disclosed. Propylene, hydrogen, and oxygen are reacted in a slurry comprising a catalyst and a solvent to produce a gaseous product stream and a liquid product stream. The gaseous product stream is contacted with an absorbent to produce a gas effluent and a liquid effluent. The gas effluent is recycled to the reaction step.

Propylene oxide process

A process is disclosed for reacting an olefin, hydrogen, and oxygen in a slurry comprising a catalyst and a solvent in a reactor. The gas bubbles in the slurry are in a churn-turbulent flow regime. The process gives improved yield and operational and maintenance advantages.

Direct epoxidation process

A process is disclosed for reacting an olefin, hydrogen, and oxygen in a slurry comprising a catalyst and a solvent in a reactor having a column and at least one side arm. The column is operated in a churn-turbulent flow regime. The slurry is circulated through the side arm, filtered, and exits the reactor.

The invention is a process for epoxidizing an olefin with hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a noble metal and a titanium or vanadium zeolite in a solvent mixture comprising water, methanol, and a C&#x2013;Caliphatic ketone. This process surprisingly gives significantly reduced by-product glycol and glycol ethers formed by the unwanted ring-opening of epoxides.

An aqueous stream containing propylene glycol and/or ethers thereof is treated by counter current liquid&#x2014;liquid extraction with propylene and/or propane to separate the propylene glycol and/or ether from the aqueous stream.

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John H Speidel, Jr