Epoxidation Process

US5591875A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Te Chang · West Chester, US
• David W. Leyshon · West Chester, US
• Guy L. Crocco · Wilmington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 16, 1996
• Grant date: Jan 7, 1997
• Expiry date: Jan 16, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01J29/89
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In an epoxidation process wherein an olefin is reacted with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a titanium-containing molecular sieve catalyst and a salt, the tendency of the catalyst to produce greater quantities of oxygen as it ages due to non-selective decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide may be counteracted by the addition of a chelating agent bearing hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, and/or phosphoryl groups. The use of such a chelating agent enables selectivity to epoxide to be maintained at a desirably high level for a prolonged period of time in a continuous epoxidation unit.