Process for the preparation of propylene oxide

US9688648B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• BASF SE
• DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC · US

Inventors

• Joaquim Henrique Teles · Waldsee, DE
• Bianca Seelig · Cologne, DE
• Dominic RIEDEL · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Philip Kampe · Singapore, SG
• Daniel Urbanczyk · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Markus Weber · Langenfeld, DE
• Ulrich Mueller · Hamburg, DE
• Andrei-Nicolae Parvulescu · Ludwigshafen am Rhein, DE
• Alexander Schroeder · Wattenheim, DE
• Meinolf Weidenbach · Stade, DE
• Werner J. Witzl · Stade, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 16, 2014
• Grant date: Jun 27, 2017
• Expiry date: Jul 16, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/52
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A continuous process for the preparation of propylene oxide, comprising (i) providing a liquid feed stream comprising propene, hydrogen peroxide, acetonitrile, water, dissolved potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and optionally propane; (ii) passing the liquid feed stream provided in (i) into an epoxidation reactor comprising a catalyst comprising a titanium zeolite of structure type MWW, and subjecting the liquid feed stream to epoxidation reaction conditions; (iii) removing an effluent stream from the epoxidation reactor; wherein the concentration of the dissolved potassium dihydrogen phosphate in the liquid feed stream is at least 10% of the solubility limit of the potassium dihydrogen phosphate in the liquid feed stream.