Abstract: A method of purifying propylene oxide, which comprises subjecting the propylene oxide containing methyl formate as an impurity to extractive distillation using a hydrocarbon of 7 to 10 carbon atoms as an extractant with an extractive distillation column, adding water to the distillate from the overhead of the extractive distillation column to conduct oil-water separation, recycling the oil layer separated to the extractive distillation column, removing the aqueous layer outside the system thereby to obtain propylene oxide in which a methyl formate concentration is reduced as a bottom liquid of the extractive distillation column.

Abstract: A method of purifying propylene oxide, which comprises subjecting the propylene oxide containing methyl formate as an impurity to extractive distillation using a hydrocarbon of 7 to 10 carbon atoms as an extractant with an extractive distillation column, adding water to the distillate from the overhead of the extractive distillation column to conduct oil-water separation, recycling the oil layer separated to the extractive distillation column, removing the aqueous layer outside the system thereby to obtain propylene oxide in which a methyl formate concentration is reduced as a bottom liquid of the extractive distillation column.

Abstract: A process for purifying propylene oxide characterized by subjecting a liquid reaction mixture containing propylene oxide, and water, hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing organic compounds as impurities obtained by reacting cumene hydroperoxide with propylene to extractive distillation using an extractant of a hydrocarbon having 7 to 20 carbon atoms with an extractive distillation column, and controlling a concentration of propylene glycol in the extractant supplied to the extractive distillation column to 20% by weight or less.

Abstract: A method for chlorine purification in which crude chlorine containing nitrogen and/or oxygen is purified to separate the nitrogen and oxygen from the chloride, characterized in that the crude chlorine containing nitrogen and/or oxygen is contacted with 1,2-dichloroethane to cause the 1,2-dichloroethane to absorb the chlorine contained in the crude chlorine, and a process for producing 1,2-dichloroethane which comprises reacting ethylene with the chlorine contained in the chlorine containing 1,2-dichloroethane.

Abstract: A process for producing cumene, characterized by preparing a copper-based catalyst by reducing a copper-based catalyst precursor containing copper in an oxidized state with hydrogen in liquid cumene, and subjecting cumyl alcohol to hydrogenolysis in the presence of the copper-based catalyst, and a process for producing propylene oxide which includes that process.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenating an olefin, which comprises upwardly passing a liquid containing an olef in and a gas containing hydrogen through a packed bed of a solid hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the superficial velocity of the gas is 3.0 cm/sec or more.

Abstract: A process for oxidizing a liquid component with an oxygen-containing gas, wherein the oxidation is carried out under a condition of an agitation power per unit volume of 10.0 to 500 kg•m/sec/m3.

Abstract: A process for purifying propylene oxide characterized by Subjecting a liquid reaction mixture containing propylene oxide, and water, hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing organic compounds as impurities obtained by reacting cumene hydroperoxide with propylene to extractive distillation using an extractant of a hydrocarbon having 7 to 20 carbon atoms with an extractive distillation column, and controlling a concentration of propylene glycol in the extractant supplied to the extractive distillation column to 20% by weight or less.

Abstract: A process for purifying propylene oxide, which comprises using a liquid reaction mixture containing propylene oxide, and water, hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing organic compounds as impurities obtained by reacting cumene hydroperoxide with propylene, as a liquid raw material, and separating and recovering propylene oxide from the liquid raw material, wherein the process comprises the following steps: first step; a step of subjecting the liquid raw material to extractive distillation using a hydrocarbon of 7 to 10 carbons as an extractant to separate into the overhead stream containing most of water and the oxygen-containing impurities and the bottom stream containing propylene oxide, the hydrocarbons and the extractant, second step; a step of subjecting the bottom stream to extractive distillation using a hydrocarbon of 7 to 10 carbons as an extractant to separate into the overhead containing propylene oxide and the bottom stream containing hydrocarbons and the extractant, and third step; subjecting the ext

Abstract: A process for producing cumene, which comprises subjecting cumyl alcohol to hydrogenolysis in the presence of a copper-based catalyst and using hydrogen having a carbon monoxide content of 5% by volume or less. The process is applied to cumene production in a hydrogenolysis step in propylene oxide production.

Abstract: A process for producing cumene, characterized by preparing a copper-based catalyst by reducing a copper-based catalyst precursor containing copper in an oxidized state with hydrogen in liquid cumene, and subjecting cumyl alcohol to hydrogenolysis in the presence of the copper-based catalyst, and a process for producing propylene oxide which includes that process.

Abstract: A process for producing &agr;-phenylethyl alcohol, which comprises supplying a raw material containing acetophenone into a reactor and hydrogenating acetophenone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the concentrations of organic acids and sulfur-containing acids in the raw material containing acetophenone are 1 &mgr;mol/g or less and 0.5 &mgr;mol/g or less, respectively.

Abstract: A method for chlorine purification in which crude chlorine containing nitrogen and/or oxygen is purified to separate the nitrogen and oxygen from the chloride, characterized in that the crude chlorine containing nitrogen and/or oxygen is contacted with 1,2-dichloroethane to cause the 1,2-dichloroethane to absorb the chlorine contained in the crude chlorine, and a process for producing 1,2-dichloroethane which comprises reacting ethylene with the chlorine contained in the chlorine containing 1,2-dichloroethane.

Abstract: A process for producing &agr;-phenylethyl alcohol, which comprises supplying a raw material containing acetophenone into a reactor and hydrogenating acetophenone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the concentrations of organic acids and sulfur-containing acids in the raw material containing acetophenone are 1 &mgr;mol/g or less and 0.5 &mgr;mol/g or less, respectively.

Abstract: A process for producing propylene oxide, which comprises steps of reacting propylene with cumene hydroperoxide in the presence of a catalyst to obtain propylene oxide, and subjecting the reaction mixture obtained the above reaction step to distillation and recovering unreacted propylene from the top of a distillation column, wherein a bottom temperature of the distillation column is set at 200° C. or lower.

Abstract: A process for producing propylene oxide, which comprises reacting propylene with cumene hydroperoxide in the presence of a catalyst, wherein a concentration of water contained in the propylene as a raw material is 2% by weight or less.

Abstract: A process is described for purifying propylene oxide, which includes the step of distilling propylene oxide containing impurities in the presence of a hydrocarbon having 5 carbon atoms or less. According to the present invention, a process is provided for purifying propylene oxide which has a feature that impurities contained in a solution containing propylene oxide to be purified can be efficiently removed. Oxygen-containing impurities, in particular, can be very efficiently removed.

Abstract: A process for producing propylene oxide comprising the following steps: oxidation step: a step of obtaining isopropylbenzene hydroperoxide by oxidizing isopropylbenzene; epoxidation step: a step of obtaining propylene oxide and cumyl alcohol by reacting propylene with isopropylbenzene hydroperoxide obtained in the oxidation step; hydrogenolysis step: a step of obtaining isopropylbenzene by hydrogenolyzing cumyl alcohol obtained in the epoxidation step, and recycling this isopropylbenzene to the oxidation step as a raw material of the oxidation step; and organic acid removal step: a step of removing an organic acid out of the system in at least one point in said steps or between said steps.

Abstract: A process for producing an oxirane compound from ethylbenzene hydroperoxide and an olefin in the presence of an immobilized catalyst bed, wherein the process satisfies the following conditions (1) to (4): (1) the catalyst bed is divided into n catalyst beds and the catalyst beds are used in series, wherein n is an integer of 2 or more, (2) fresh ethylbenzene hydroperoxide is divided into portions, which are supplied to respective inlets of the catalyst beds, (3) fresh olefin is supplied to the inlet of the first catalyst bed, and (4) the reaction mixture discharged from each outlet of respective catalyst beds excluding the final catalyst bed is supplied to the inlet of the subsequent catalyst bed.

Abstract: A process for producing an oxirane compound from an organic peroxide other than ethylbenzene hydroperoxide and an olefin in the presence of an immobilized catalyst bed, wherein the process satisfies the following conditions (1) to (4): (1) the catalyst bed is divided into n catalyst beds and the catalyst beds are used in series, wherein n is an integer of 2 or more, (2) a fresh organic peroxide is divided into portions, which are supplied to respective inlets of the catalyst beds, (3) a fresh olefin is supplied to the inlet of the first catalyst bed, and (4) the reaction mixture discharged from each outlet of respective catalyst beds excluding the final catalyst bed is supplied to the inlet of the subsequent catalyst bed.