Abstract: A distillation method for the purification of crude propylene oxide containing contaminating quantities of water and methanol by partially purifying the crude propylene oxide in a plural stage distillation zone to provide a vaporized overhead distillate propylene oxide fraction containing a minor contaminating amount of vaporized water, andpassing the propylene oxide vapor fraction through a drying chamber containing a porous hygroscopic solid absorbent to selectively absorb water vapor onto the absorbent,and liquefying and recovering the thus-dehydrated purified propylene oxide.

Abstract: An apparatus for contacting fluids combined with solids comprises a cylindrical vessel with a slurry or liquid feed inlet port, a liquid outlet port, a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port. The vessel includes a lower cylindrical baffle which defines a stilling chamber therearound, the main contacting section of the vessel being above the stilling chamber. The lower end of the baffle extends below the liquid outlet port which discharges liquid from the stilling chamber. A cylindrical member is disposed in the cylindrical vessel inwardly of the stilling chamber. It has a lower end which is aligned with the gas inlet port for receiving gas therefrom and an upper end which is higher than a lower edge of the cylindrical baffle. The main contacting section above the cylindrical member has a height which makes a ratio with a length of the cylindrical member having a value within the range between 2 and 50.

Abstract: A hydrotreating reactor having a plurality of vertically spaced contacting stages having frusto-conical baffles for back-mixing hydrocarbon oil being treated and a plurality of clear oil outlets in fluid communication with a corresponding plurality of annular stilling chambers.