Production of propylene oxide

Abstract

Abstract PURPOSE: To safely obtain the titled compound without carrying out concentration of percarboxylic acid, by reacting propylene with hydrogen peroxide in an inert solvent forming hetero azeotrope with water in the presence of an organic monocarboxylic acid while taking out resultant water out of system. CONSTITUTION: Propylene is reacted with hydrogen peroxide in a solvent (e.g. chlorine based solvent or hydrocarbon based solvent) forming hetero azeotrope with water and simultaneously inert to hydrogen peroxide and propylene oxide in the presence of an organic monocarboxylic acid (e.g. acetic acid or benzoic acid) at 40W120°C, preferably 50W90°C while taking out water introduced into the system and water produced by reaction together with the above-mentioned solvent and produced propylene oxide out of the reaction system to provide the aimed propylene oxide. 2W5 times mol. organic monocarboxylic acid and 1.5W10 times mol propylene based on hydrogen peroxide are preferably used. COPYRIGHT: (C)1989,JPO&Japio

Inventors

• 👤 Kaoru Ueno
• 👤 Keisuke Watanabe
• 👤 Takayoshi Masuda

Bibliographic Details