Arco Chemical Technology, L.p.

Rajendra S Albal

Robert N Cochran

Lawrence M Candela

Thomas I Evans

David W Leyshon

Bernard Cooker

W Wayne Wentzheimer

Morris Gelb

T Ben Hsu

Allen M Donn

Alan P Woinsky

Wayne Wentzheimer

Allen Donn

An aqueous epoxidation process stream containing molybdenum and sodium values and organics is treated for organics removal as by incineration and an aqueous solution containing molybdenum and sodium is recovered, cooled, acidified and contacted with activated carbon and an aqueous stream reduced in molybdenum is recovered, further molybdenum reduction can be achieved by treatment with basic ion exchange resin.

Molybdenum epoxidation catalyst recovery

The waste organics containing caustic stream from a propylene oxide/styrene monomer process is preferably first concentrated by distillation and then contacted with strong acid such as sulfuric acid and an organic solvent, the admixture is phase separated and an aqueous sodium containing phase reduced in organics is separated from an organic solvent phase reduced in sodium.

Acidification/extraction treatment of waste caustic stream

A process is provided whereby hydrogen peroxide containing various organic impurities is purified by contact with an organic nonionic hydrophobic polymeric adsorbent, preferably derived from polymerized styrene.

Purification of hydrogen peroxide

A process is provided whereby the hydrogen peroxide-containing oxidate from methyl benzyl alcohol oxidation is extracted with water and with ethyl benzene extractive solvent and an aqueous hydrogen peroxide phase is separated from an ethyl benzene solvent phase which also contains methyl benzyl alcohol and acetophenone, the improvement being that ethyl benzene is introduced into the extraction zone below the point of introduction of the oxidate, thus avoiding the possibility of formation of an aqueous hydrogen peroxide phase concentrated to a hazardous degree in hydrogen peroxide in the extraction zone.

Recovery of hydrogen peroxide

Caustic requirements are substantially reduced in the treatment of epoxidate from olefin/ethylbenzene hydroperoxide epoxidation by treating the epoxidate products with an aqueous stream comprised of alkali metal carbonate, separating a phenol-containing 1-phenyl ethanol fraction from the treated expodiate, separating phenol from the 1-phenyl ethanol fraction by treatment with basic anion exchange resin, regenerating the resin with aqueous alkali metal hydroxide, and converting alkali metal hydroxide from the resin regeneration to alkali metal carbonate for use in the epoxidate treatment.

Epoxidate treatment

Hydrogen peroxide and organic active oxygen-containing compounds in an organic stream, such as that from a methyl benzyl alcohol oxidate after hydrogen peroxide separation, are selectively decomposed by non-catalytic thermal treatment at 150.degree.-180.degree. C. for 20-60 minutes whereby the organic active oxygen materials selectively decompose to acetophenone and methyl benzyl alcohol.

Production of hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide and organic active oxygen-containing compounds in an organic stream, such as that from a methyl benzyl alcohol oxidate after hydrogen peroxide separation, are selectively decomposed by contact with an alumina catalyst, the organic active oxygen materials selectively decomposing to acetophenone and methyl benzyl alcohol.

Hydrogen peroxide is produced by liquid phase molecular oxygen oxidation of methyl benzyl alcohol. Inhibiting impurities are removed prior to oxidation.

Growing community of inventors

West Chester, PA, United States of America

Rajendra S Albal