화학공학소재연구정보센터
Propylene oxide
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원료 H2O2
생산물 propylene oxide
적용 A novel process for the production of propylene oxide from propylene and hydrogen peroxide via perpropionic acid.
설명 Description: Perpropionic acid: aqueous hydrogen peroxide is reacted with propionic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid to perpropionic acid (1). Perpropionic acid is recovered from the reaction mixture by extraction (2) with an inert organic solvent. The aqueous phase of the extraction containing mainly H2SO4 and excess H2O2 is concentrated in column (3) and recycled to (1). The organic extract is scrubbed with water (4) and dried by azeotropic distillation (5).

   Propylene oxide and recovery: The perpropionic acid solution is reacted with propylene (6). Propylene oxide is recovered from the reaction mixture by fractionation in the following steps: predistillation (7); excess propylene for recycle (8); propylene oxide (9); solvent for recycle (10); propionic acid also for recycle (11).

Features: The process has been jointly developed by Degussa and Bayer AG. A pilot has been operated for several years.
   Propylene selectivity of the process is close to 100%, so that no byproducts are being formed. The process is environmentally clean, avoiding problems with chlorine, CaCl2 and chlorinated byproducts. The process water is easily handled in a biological system.
   The safety aspects related with the process have been thoroughly discussd and tested with German government authorities (BAM) whose approval for the concept developed has been given.