Process for producing propylene oxide
US5599955A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 22, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 4, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 22, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/52
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention provides an integrated process for the production of propylene oxide from an alternate feedstream such as synthesis gas. In the process, propylene oxide is produced from a feedstream comprising hydrogen and a carbon oxide. A portion of the feedstream is passed to an oxygenate production zone to produce an oxygenate stream comprising methanol and dimethyl ether, and the oxygenate stream is passed to an olefin production zone containing a metal aluminophosphate catalyst to produce a propylene stream. The propylene stream is epoxidized with hydrogen peroxide which has been produced from hydrogen separated from a portion of the feedstream. The spent water stream produced by the epoxidation reaction is treated to remove heavy components and returned to the hydrogen peroxide production zone. The return of the unreacted propylene from the epoxidation reaction zone for its subsequent recovery and recycle permits a less complicated, lower energy propylene separation. The recycling of spent water from the epoxidation reaction zone and the removal of heavy compounds eliminates a low value water stream and the recovery of heavy hydrocarbons therefrom produces a valuable s…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.