Part-stream distillation

US9732054B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• BASF SE
• DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC · US

Inventors

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

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 24, 2016
• Grant date: Aug 15, 2017
• Expiry date: Aug 24, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07D301/32
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A continuous process for the preparation of propylene oxide, comprising (a) reacting propene, optionally admixed with propane, with hydrogen peroxide in a reaction apparatus in the presence of acetonitrile as solvent, obtaining a stream S0 containing propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, at least one further component B, optionally propene and optionally propane, wherein the normal boiling point of the at least one component B is higher than the normal boiling point of acetonitrile and wherein the decadic logarithm of the octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow) of the at least one component B is greater than zero; (b) separating propylene oxide from S0, obtaining a stream S1 containing acetonitrile, water and the at least one further component B; (c) dividing S1 into two streams S2 and S3; (d) subjecting S3 to a vapor-liquid fractionation in a fractionation unit, obtaining a vapor fraction stream S4 being depleted of the at least one component B; (e) recycling at least a portion of S4, optionally after work-up, to (a).