Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene. A gas composition from an alkylene oxide reactor is supplied to an alkylene oxide absorber comprising a column of vertically stacked trays or comprising a packed column. Lean absorbent comprising at least 20 wt % water is supplied to the alkylene oxide absorber and is contacted with the gas composition in the presence of one or more catalysts that promote carboxylation and hydrolysis. At least 50% of the alkylene oxide entering the alkylene oxide absorber is converted in the alkylene oxide absorber. Fat absorbent is withdrawn from the absorber, is optionally supplied to finishing reactors and/or a flash vessel or light ends stripper, and is subsequently subjected to dehydration and purification to provide a purified alkylene glycol product stream.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene. A gas composition from an alkylene oxide reactor is supplied to an alkylene oxide absorber comprising a column of vertically stacked trays or comprising a packed column. Lean absorbent comprising at least 20 wt % water is supplied to the alkylene oxide absorber and is contacted with the gas composition in the presence of one or more catalysts that promote carboxylation and hydrolysis. At least 50% of the alkylene oxide entering the alkylene oxide absorber is converted in the alkylene oxide absorber. Fat absorbent is withdrawn from the absorber, is optionally supplied to finishing reactors and/or a flash vessel or light ends stripper, and is subsequently subjected to dehydration and purification to provide a purified alkylene glycol product stream.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene. A gas composition from an alkylene oxide reactor is supplied to an alkylene oxide absorber comprising a column of vertically stacked trays or comprising a packed column. Lean absorbent comprising at least 20 wt % water is supplied to the alkylene oxide absorber and is contacted with the gas composition in the presence of one or more catalysts that promote carboxylation and hydrolysis. At least 50% of the alkylene oxide entering the alkylene oxide absorber is converted in the alkylene oxide absorber. Fat absorbent is withdrawn from the absorber, is optionally supplied to finishing reactors and/or a flash vessel or light ends stripper, and is subsequently subjected to dehydration and purification to provide a purified alkylene glycol product stream.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of ethylene oxide (EO) from fat absorbent (FA) which comprises providing a feed of elevated temperature FA to an EO Stripper, providing a stripping gas feed and contacting the stripping gas feed at elevated temperature with the elevated temperature FA feed, obtaining stripped lean absorbent (LA) and an EO-containing gas, and providing one or more external process stream feeds to the EO Stripper at a location above the elevated temperature FA feed and at a lower temperature with respect to the elevated temperature FA feed thereby concentrating EO in the EO-containing gas. The process can also include one or more impurity removal stages in the form of one or more side draws from the EO Stripper or an EO Stripper Concentrator. The invention also includes an apparatus for performing the process.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene wherein conversion of alkylene oxide to alkylene glycol occurs in an alkylene oxide absorber and optionally in further reactors, and alkylene glycol is extracted from fat absorbent by contacting the fat absorbent with a lean solvent, thereby producing fat solvent, recovering alkylene glycol from the fat solvent and recycling the lean solvent.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of ethylene oxide and, optionally, ethylene glycol. A base is added at various positions downstream of the quench section of an ethylene oxide absorber. This mitigates corrosion in the ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol plant.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of ethylene oxide (EO) from fat absorbent (FA) which comprises providing a feed of elevated temperature FA to an EO Stripper, providing a stripping gas feed and contacting the stripping gas feed at elevated temperature with the elevated temperature FA feed, obtaining stripped lean absorbent (LA) and an EO-containing gas, and providing one or more external process stream feeds to the EO Stripper at a location above the elevated temperature FA feed and at a lower temperature with respect to the elevated temperature FA feed thereby concentrating EO in the EO-containing gas. The process can also include one or more impurity removal stages in the form of one or more side draws from the EO Stripper or an EO Stripper Concentrator. The invention also includes an apparatus for performing the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for remediation of a fluid contaminated with alkylene oxide, involving contacting the contaminated fluid with an aqueous absorbent to yield a fat absorbent having absorbed fluid, conferring intimate contact of fat absorbent and alkylene oxide and conversion of alkylene oxide; and, an apparatus for remediation of the fluid which has a converter having inlet means connected to the outlet of a fluid absorber for contacting fluid and aqueous absorbent, a holding unit having a volume V for the fat absorbent, and outlet means connected to the inlet of a fluid desorber.

Abstract: A reactor system for the oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide. The reactor system includes a reactor tube that contains a packed bed of shaped support material that can include a catalytic component. The shaped support material has a hollow cylinder geometric configuration. The reactor system has specific combinations of reactor tube and catalyst system geometries.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene wherein conversion of alkylene oxide to alkylene glycol occurs in an alkylene oxide absorber and optionally in further reactors, and alkylene glycol is extracted from fat absorbent by contacting the fat absorbent with a lean solvent, thereby producing fat solvent, recovering alkylene glycol from the fat solvent and recycling the lean solvent.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of ethylene oxide (EO) from fat absorbent (FA) which comprises providing a feed of elevated temperature FA to an EO Stripper, providing a stripping gas feed and contacting the stripping gas feed at elevated temperature with the elevated temperature FA feed, obtaining stripped lean absorbent (LA) and an EO-containing gas, and providing one or more external process stream feeds to the EO Stripper at a location above the elevated temperature FA feed and at a lower temperature with respect to the elevated temperature FA feed thereby concentrating EO in the EO-containing gas. The process can also include one or more impurity removal stages in the form of one or more side draws from the EO Stripper or an EO Stripper Concentrator. The invention also includes an apparatus for performing the process.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of ethylene oxide (EO) from fat absorbent (FA) which comprises providing a feed of elevated temperature FA to an EO Stripper, providing a stripping gas feed and contacting the stripping gas feed at elevated temperature with the elevated temperature FA feed, obtaining stripped lean absorbent (LA) and an EO-containing gas, and providing one or more external process stream feeds to the EO Stripper at a location above the elevated temperature FA feed and at a lower temperature with respect to the elevated temperature FA feed thereby concentrating EO in the EO-containing gas. The process can also include one or more impurity removal stages in the form of one or more side draws from the EO Stripper or an EO Stripper Concentrator. The invention also includes an apparatus for performing the process.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of ethylene oxide (EO) from fat absorbent (FA) which comprises providing a feed of elevated temperature FA to an EO Stripper, providing a stripping gas feed and contacting the stripping gas feed at elevated temperature with the elevated temperature FA feed, obtaining stripped lean absorbent (LA) and an EO-containing gas, and providing one or more external process stream feeds to the EO Stripper at a location above the elevated temperature FA feed and at a lower temperature with respect to the elevated temperature FA feed thereby concentrating EO in the EO-containing gas. The process can also include one or more impurity removal stages in the form of one or more side draws from the EO Stripper or an EO Stripper Concentrator. The invention also includes an apparatus for performing the process.

Abstract: The invention provides for the utilization of microchannel apparatus in a process for the cooling of a gaseous mixture comprising ethylene oxide and in a process for the concentration or purification of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: A high activity and high selectivity silver catalyst comprising silver and, optionally, one or more promoters supported on a suitable support material having the form of a shaped agglomerate. The structure of the shaped agglomerate is that of a hollow cylinder having a relatively small inside (bore) diameter. The catalyst is made by providing the shaped material of a particular geometry and incorporating the catalytic components therein. The catalyst is useful in the epoxidation of ethylene.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkene. A gas composition from an alkylene oxide reactor is supplied to an alkylene oxide absorber comprising a column of vertically stacked trays or comprising a packed column. Lean absorbent comprising at least 20 wt % water is supplied to the alkylene oxide absorber and is contacted with the gas composition in the presence of one or more catalysts that promote carboxylation and hydrolysis. At least 50% of the alkylene oxide entering the alkylene oxide absorber is converted in the alkylene oxide absorber. Fat absorbent is withdrawn from the absorber, is optionally supplied to finishing reactors and/or a flash vessel or light ends stripper, and is subsequently subjected to dehydration and purification to provide a purified alkylene glycol product stream.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of ethylene oxide and, optionally, ethylene glycol. A base is added at various positions downstream of the quench section of an ethylene oxide absorber. This mitigates corrosion in the ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved epoxidation process and an improved epoxidation reactor. The present invention makes use of a reactor which comprises a plurality of microchannels. Such process microchannels may be adapted such that the epoxidation and optionally other processes can take place in the microchannels and that they are in a heat exchange relation with channels adapted to contain a heat exchange fluid. A reactor comprising such process microchannels is referred to as a “microchannel reactor”. The invention also provides a method of installing an epoxidation catalyst in a microchannel reactor. The invention also provides a method of preparing an epoxidation catalyst. The invention also provides an epoxidation catalyst. The invention also provides a certain process for the epoxidation of an olefin and a process for the preparation of a chemical derivable from an olefin oxide. The invention also provides a microchannel reactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved epoxidation process and an improved epoxidation reactor. The present invention makes use of a reactor which comprises a plurality of microchannels. Such process microchannels may be adapted such that the epoxidation and optionally other processes can take place in the microchannels and that they are in a heat exchange relation with channels adapted to contain a heat exchange fluid. A reactor comprising such process microchannels is referred to as a “microchannel reactor”. The invention also provides a method of installing an epoxidation catalyst in a microchannel reactor. The invention also provides a method of preparing an epoxidation catalyst. The invention also provides an epoxidation catalyst. The invention also provides a certain process for the epoxidation of an olefin and a process for the preparation of a chemical derivable from an olefin oxide. The invention also provides a microchannel reactor.

Abstract: A high activity and high selectivity silver catalyst comprising silver and, optionally, one or more promoters supported on a suitable support material having the form of a shaped agglomerate. The structure of the shaped agglomerate is that of a hollow cylinder having a relatively small inside (bore) diameter. The catalyst is made by providing the shaped material of a particular geometry and incorporating the catalytic components therein. The catalyst is useful in the epoxidation of ethylene.