Lyondell Chemical Technology, L.p.

Arco Chemical Technology, L.p.

Walter S Dubner

Daniel F White

David W Leyshon

Te Chang

Xiangmin Li

Elizabeth I Ross-Medgaarden

Wilfred Po-sum Shum

Robert N Cochran

Lawrence M Candela

Beaven S Mandimutsira

Sarthak Gaur

Wilfred Po-Sum Shum

Beaven Mandimutsira

A propylene oxide separation system that comprises a distillation column, a decanter, and water wash system. The distillation column is configured to receive a crude propylene oxide stream, discharge an impurity stream that comprises methanol and water, and discharge a bottoms stream that comprises a majority of the propylene oxide entering in the crude propylene oxide stream. The decanter is configured to receive at least a portion of the impurity stream and a hydrocarbon solvent to provide for formation in the decanter of an organic phase and an aqueous phase. The organic phase comprises propylene oxide and hydrocarbon solvent, and is sent to the distillation column. The aqueous phase comprises a majority weight percent of the methanol and the water entering in the impurity stream. The water wash system is configured to receive and purge the aqueous phase from the propylene oxide separation system.

Alkylene oxide separation systems, methods, and apparatuses

Allyl alcohol production processes are generally described herein. One or more of the processes generally include contacting a propylene oxide stream with an isomerization catalyst under isomerization conditions sufficient to form an isomerization product stream including allyl alcohol, wherein the propylene oxide stream includes a total impurity concentration of at least 100 ppm. One or more of the processes generally includes purging at least a portion of a stream from one or more separation unit(s).

Feed sources for allyl alcohol production processes

A process for the production of 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde is described. The process comprises reacting allyl alcohol with a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst system comprising a rhodium complex and a 2,3-O-isopropylidene-2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-bis[bis(3,5-di-n-alkylphenyl)phosphino]butane. The process gives high yield of 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde compared to 3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionaldehyde.

Hydroformylation process

The catalytic hydrogenation of HBA and/or HMPA is improved by either or both of (1) increasing the temperature in the hydrogenation zone from about 50 to 70&#xb0; C. at the inlet to above 80&#xb0; C. at the outlet and (2) raising the pH of the hydrogenation feed to 4.5&#x2013;6.0 before hydrogenation.

Production of butanediol

Hydroxybutyraldehyde is formed by hydroformylation of allyl alcohol using a catalyst comprised of a rhodium complex and a ligand such as DIOP, the concentration of CO in the reaction liquid is maintained above about 4.5 mg. mols/liter.

Allyl alcohol hydroformylation

The present invention relates to the improved liquid phase dehydration of 1-phenyl ethanol to styrene monomer, the improvement comprising the use of a residue formation inhibiting agent during the liquid phase dehydration.

Dehydration of 1-phenyl ethanol

In the co-production of propylene oxide and styrene monomer, there is produced a sodium-containing heavy residue stream previously suitable only as a low grade fuel. In accordance with the invention, the heavy residue stream is contacted with acid having a molar concentration with respect to water above that which corresponds to the product salt solubility limit, and the resulting mixture is phase separated into an aqueous sodium salt-containing slurry phase and an organic phase reduced in sodium.

Residual stream upgrading in a propylene oxide-styrene monomer process

In the co-production oxide and styrene monomer, there is produced a sodium-containing heavy residue stream previously suitable only as a low grade fuel. In accordance with the invention, the heavy residue stream is contacted with aqueous acid, and the resulting mixture is phase separated into an aqueous sodium-containing phase and an organic phase reduced in sodium, and at least a portion of the organic phase reduced in sodium is converted to styrene monomer.

Growing community of inventors

Wilmington, DE, United States of America

Walter S Dubner