Process for the epoxidation of olefins

US6596883B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Degussa AG · DE

Inventors

• Willi Hofen · Rodenbach, DE
• Thomas Haas · Munster, DE
• Wolfgang Wöll · Maintal, DE
• Georg Thiele · Hanau, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 23, 2002
• Grant date: Jul 22, 2003
• Expiry date: Aug 23, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07D301/12
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for the working up of a product stream from the epoxidation of olefins that contains olefin, olefin oxide, water-miscible organic solvent and water, by separating this product stream into an overhead product containing olefin, olefin oxide and organic solvent, and into a bottom product containing organic solvent and water, wherein the separation takes place in a pre-evaporator with less than 10 theoretical separation stages at a pressure of 1.5 to less than 3 bar, and 20 to 60% of the total amount of organic solvent introduced with the product stream is removed with the overhead product and the balance remains in the bottom product. A process for the epoxidation of olefins that includes this working up stage is also disclosed.