High efficiency epoxidation process
AssigneeArco Chemical Technology, L.P.
InventorTe Chang
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Abstract
Propylene is converted to propylene oxide in a highly efficient liquid phase process wherein temperature and pressure are both increased over the course of the epoxidation, which is preferably conducted in a continuous mode of operation. The catalyst used is a heterogeneous catalyst such as titanium silicalite or titania-on-silica. The oxidizing agent is an active oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide or an organic hydroperoxide. When the desired yield of propylene oxide can no longer be maintained, the catalyst is replaced or regenerated. Regeneration by washing the catalyst with a hot solvent containing a source of ammonium or alkali metal cations is highly
Claims16
A process for producing propylene oxide comprising
- (a) contacting propylene with an active oxygen species in a liquid phase utilizing a heterogeneous catalyst at a temperature and pressure effective to obtain at least a desired minimum yield of propylene oxide;
- and
- (b) increasing both the temperature and pressure in a manner effective to maintain a substantially constant concentration of propylene in the liquid phase and to continue to obtain at least the desired minimum yield of propylene oxide.
A process for producing propylene oxide comprising
- (a) contacting propylene with hydrogen peroxide in a liquid phase within a vaporizing reactor utilizing a titanium-containing zeolite catalyst at a temperature and pressure effective to obtain at least a desired minimum yield of propylene oxide;
- (b) increasing both the temperature and pressure in a manner effective to maintain a substantially constant concentration of propylene in the liquid phase and to continue to obtain at least the desired minimum yield of propylene oxide;
- and
- (c) regenerating the titanium-containing zeolite catalyst when the titanium-containing zeolite catalyst performance has declined to a point when the desired minimum yield of propylene oxide can no longer be achieved by further increasing the temperature and pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.