Abstract:
A continuous process for the preparation of propylene oxide, comprising (a) reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in a reaction apparatus in the presence of acetonitrile as solvent, obtaining a stream SO containing propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, at least one further component B wherein the normal boiling point of the at least one component B is higher than the normal boiling point of acetonitrile; (b) separating propylene oxide from SO, obtaining a stream SI containing acetonitrile, water and the at least one further component B; (c) dividing S1 into two streams S2 and S3; (d) subjecting S3 to a vapor-liquid fractionation in a first fractionation unit, obtaining a vapor fraction stream S4 a being depleted, relative to S3, of at least one of the at least one component B and obtaining a liquid bottoms stream S4b, and subjecting at least part of the vapor fraction stream S4 a to a vapor-liquid fractionation in a second fractionation unit, obtaining a vapor fraction stream S4c and a liquid bottoms stream S4 being depleted, relative to S4a, of at least one of the at least one component B; (e) recycling at least a portion of S4, optionally after work-up, to (a).
Abstract:
A continuous process for the preparation of propylene oxide, comprising (i) providing a liquid feed stream comprising propene, hydrogen peroxide, acetonitrile, water, optionally propane, and at least one dissolved potassium salt of a phosphorus oxyacid wherein the molar ratio of potassium relative to phosphorus in the at least one potassium salt of a phosphorus oxyacid is in the range of from 0.6 to 1.4; (ii) passing the liquid feed stream provided in (i) into an epoxidation reactor comprising a catalyst comprising a titanium zeolite of structure type MWW comprising zinc, and subjecting the liquid feed stream to epoxidation reaction conditions in the epoxidation reactor, obtaining a reaction mixture comprising propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, the at least one dissolved potassium salt of a phosphorus oxyacid, optionally propene, and optionally propane; (iii) removing an effluent stream from the epoxidation reactor, the effluent stream comprising propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, at least a portion of the at least one dissolved potassium salt of a phosphorus oxyacid, optionally propene, and optionally propane.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a heterogeneous catalyst containing iron and copper and to a method for the production thereof comprising the following steps: I. Pyrolyzing gaseous iron pentacarbonyl to yield carbonyl iron powder having spherical primary particles, II. Treating the carbonyl iron powder yielded in step I with hydrogen, wherein the metal spherical primary particles at least partially agglomerate, III. Surface oxidation of the iron particles from step II (agglomerates = secondary particles, and optionally remaining primary particles), forming iron oxide, IV. Bringing the particles from step III in contact with an aqueous solution of a copper compound, V. Drying in the presence of oxygen and subsequent calcination in the absence of oxygen, wherein copper compounds containing oxygen initially result on the particles, which compounds then react with the iron oxide forming a mixed oxide of the formula Cu x Fe 3-x O 4 , where 0