Process for production of propylene oxide and styrene monomer

A system for producing propylene oxide and styrene monomer, the system comprising:

• a) an oxidation reactor for receiving ethylbenzene and oxygen to produce a crude oxidate;
• b) an oxidate concentration unit for receiving the crude oxidate and discharging a concentrated oxidate;
• c) an epoxidation reactor for receiving the concentrated oxidate and propylene and discharging a propylene oxide-containing stream;
• d) a first distillation unit for receiving the propylene oxide-containing stream and discharging a light overhead stream comprising propylene oxide and unreacted propylene and a heavy bottoms stream comprising ethylbenzene, methylbenzyl alcohol, acetophenone, and heavy materials;
• and
• e) a dividing-wall distillation column for receiving the heavy bottoms stream and discharging an overhead product stream, a first intermediate product stream, optionally a second intermediate stream, and a bottoms product stream, wherein the overhead product stream comprises ethylbenzene, the first intermediate product stream comprises methylbenzyl alcohol and acetophenone, the second intermediate product stream comprises benzaldehyde, and the bottoms product stream comprises methylbenzyl alcohol and heavy materials.