Pure ethylene oxide distillation process

US6833057B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Bernd Bessling · Grünstadt, DE
• Hans Hasse · Kaiserslautern, DE
• Jürgen Plückhan · Bischofswerda, DE
• Thomas Mayer · Reutlingen, DE
• Heinz Auer · Neulußheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 21, 1999
• Grant date: Dec 21, 2004
• Expiry date: Jul 21, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S203/20
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In a process for purification of ethylene oxide by distillation an aqueous mixture comprising ethylene oxide, formaldehyde and at least 5% by weight of water is introduced via a feed into a distillation apparatus comprising at least one distillation column, the mixture being introduced at a height above the bottom of at least 8 theoretical stages, the ethylene oxide is taken off at the top and in the bottom phase a mixture is obtained which contains less than 5% by weight of ethylene oxide.