Dow Global Technolgoies LLC

Jon H Siddall

Max Markus Tirtowidjojo

Barry B Fish

Richard Michael Wehmeyer

Brien A Stears

John G Pendergast, Jr

Dennis Wade Jewell

Mark D Bearden

David L Trent

Jan Willem Verwijs

Hendrik L Pelt

Dennis W Jewell

Hendrika Gerrita Verwijs, Legal Representative

Lena Verwijs, Legal Representative

Aaltje Verwijs-van Den Brink, Legal Representative

Haivan D Tran

Lanny Robbins

Katherine Pividal

An integrated process providing for a gas phase hydro-oxidation of an olefin, preferably, propylene, with oxygen in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst under reaction conditions such as to form a gaseous hydro-oxidation effluent stream containing an olefin oxide product, preferably, propylene oxide, water, unconverted olefin, oxygen, and hydrogen; and further providing for separation and recovery of the olefin oxide product from the effluent stream. The separation involves feeding the hydro-oxidation effluent stream into a first distillation column employing a liquid reflux rectification agent to obtain a first overhead stream containing unconverted olefin, oxygen, and hydrogen, which is recycled to the hydro-oxidation reactor, and a first bottoms stream containing water and the olefin oxide, from which upon further separation a purified olefin oxide product is recovered.

Integrated hydro-oxidation process with separation of an olefin oxide product stream

The present invention provides a method for simplifying manufacture of a mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate product from synthesis gas. The mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate product contains ethanol and other oxygenates with two or more carbon atoms per molecule. The method includes stripping a portion of carbon dioxide and inert gases contained in a mixed alcohol synthesis reaction product using a methanol-containing stream, such as one produced as part of the method, as a medium to absorb said carbon dioxide and inert gases and recycling light products and heavy products to one or more of synthesis gas generation, mixed alcohol synthesis and separation of desired mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate products from other components of a mixed alcohol synthesis stream. The present invention also provides downstream processing of the mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate product by subjecting the product to a dehydration step in order to convert at least ethanol, preferably at least ethanol and propanol, to their corresponding olefins (e.g. ethylene and propylene).

Mixed alcohol synthesis with enhanced carbon value use

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Midland, MI, United States of America

Jon H Siddall