Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A process for the epoxidation of an olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon compound which is liquid at a temperature within the range of about 50° to 100° C. and at atmospheric pressure comprising: (a) contacting said olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon compound as an oil phase with an aqueous acid phase containing acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid in aqueous solution, said aqueous acid phase containing at most about 10% by weight peracetic acid; (b) continuing said contacting for a period of time such that the peracetic acid content of the aqueous acid phase is reduced by at most about 50 wt. %, based on the peracetic acid content of the aqueous acid phase used; (c) separately recovering the aqueous acid phase from the oil phase; (d) regenerating the peracetic acid content of the separately recovered aqueous acid phase; and (e) recycling the regenerated aqueous acid phase for contacting said olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon compound in step (a).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A process for the epoxidation of an olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon compound which is liquid at a temperature within the range of about 50° to 100° C. and at atmospheric pressure comprising: (a) contacting said olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon compound as an oil phase with an aqueous acid phase containing acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid in aqueous solution, said aqueous acid phase containing at most about 10% by weight peracetic acid; (b) continuing said contacting for a period of time such that the peracetic acid content of the aqueous acid phase is reduced by at most about 50 wt. %, based on the peracetic acid content of the aqueous acid phase used; (c) separately recovering the aqueous acid phase from the oil phase; (d) regenerating the peracetic acid content of the separately recovered aqueous acid phase; and (e) recycling the regenerated aqueous acid phase for contacting said olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon compound in step (a).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the peracetic acid content of the aqueous acid phase is regenerated by adding hydrogen peroxide to said separately recovered aqueous acid phase and contacting said aqueous acid phase with an acidic cation exchange resin, said exchange resin containing a strongly acidic group.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said strongly acidic group is a sulfonic acid group.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said aqueous acid phase contains from about 1 to 8% by weight peracetic acid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said aqueous acid phase contains from about 1.5 to 6% by weight peracetic acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the aqueous acid phase further contains at least about 30% by weight water and less than about 30% by weight hydrogen peroxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous acid phase contains approximately 15% by weight acetic acid, approximately 20 to 25% by weight hydrogen peroxide, and approximately 1.5 to 5% by weight peracetic acid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the contacting of step (a) is continued for a time period such that the peracetic acid content of the aqueous acid phase is reduced by at most about 1.5% by weight based on the weight of the aqueous acid phase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the peracetic acid content of the aqueous acid phase is reduced by at most about 0.5 to 1% by weight based on the weight of the aqueous acid phase.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said separately recovered aqueous acid phase is cooled prior to regenerating the peracetic acid content in step (d).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the contacting of step (a) is carried out at atmospheric pressure and at a temperature in the range of about 50° to 80° C. and, the regeneration of step (d) is carried out at temperatures in the range of about 15° to 60° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said contacting is carried out at a temperature in the range of about 60° to 70° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said regeneration is carried out at a temperature in the range of about 20° to 40° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the flow ratio of aqueous acid phase to oil phase in the contacting of step (a) is preferably within the range of about 2:1 to 50:1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said flow ratio is in the range of about 20:1 to 40:1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the contacting of step (a) is carried out in a packed column through which the oil phase and the aqueous acid phase flow co-currently downwardly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon compound is selected from the group consisting of olefins containing more than 12 carbon atoms, unsaturated alcohols containing at least 8 carbon atoms, unsaturated fatty acids containing at least 8 carbon atoms; and the esters of said unsaturated fatty acids with monohydric or polyhydric alcohols.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said unsaturated alcohol comprises a fatty alcohol containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said unsaturated fatty acid contains from 8 to 18 carbon atoms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said fatty acid ester comprises a triglyceride.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 20 wherein said triglyceride comprises soya oil.