Process for preparing propylene oxide

US9725428B2 · 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
• Kai Gumlich · Mannheim, DE
• Peter Bassler · Viernheim, DE
• Christian Bartosch · Ludwigshafen am Rhein, DE
• Richard Jacubinas · Somerville, US
• Meinolf Weidenbach · Stade, DE
• Werner J. Witzl · Stade, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 16, 2014
• Grant date: Aug 8, 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, optionally propane, and at least one dissolved potassium salt of a phosphorus oxyacid wherein the molar ratio of potassium relative to phosphorus in the at least one potassium salt of a phosphorus oxyacid is in the range of from 0.6 to 1.4; (ii) passing the liquid feed stream provided in (i) into an epoxidation reactor comprising a catalyst comprising a titanium zeolite of structure type MWW comprising zinc, and subjecting the liquid feed stream to epoxidation reaction conditions in the epoxidation reactor, obtaining a reaction mixture comprising propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, the at least one dissolved potassium salt of a phosphorus oxyacid, optionally propene, and optionally propane; (iii) removing an effluent stream from the epoxidation reactor, the effluent stream comprising propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, at least a portion of the at least one dissolved potassium salt of a phosphorus oxyacid, optionally propene, and optionally propane.