The present disclosure relates to a method of preparing propylene oxide comprising the steps: (a) oxidizing alpha-methylbenzyl alcohol with air to form a first reaction mixture comprising hydrogen peroxide and acetophenone; (b) reacting propylene with the first reaction mixture in the presence of a catalyst to form a second reaction mixture comprising propylene oxide; (c) separating the propylene oxide from the second reaction mixture to form a third reaction mixture; (d) heating the third reaction mixture to decompose hydrogen peroxide, whereby a fourth reaction mixture is formed; (e) hydrogenating the acetophenone in the fourth reaction mixture with hydrogen to form a fifth reaction mixture comprising alpha-methylbenzyl alcohol; and (f) separating alpha-methylbenzyl alcohol from the fifth reaction mixture and returning the methyl benzyl alcohol to step (a).