Abstract: A continuous process for preparing propylene oxide proceeds by (a) reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in a reaction apparatus in the presence acetonitrile as solvent, obtaining a stream S0 containing propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, at least one further component B; (b) separating propylene oxide from S0, obtaining stream S1 containing acetonitrile, water and B; (c) dividing S1 into streams S2 and S3; (d) subjects S3 to vapor-liquid fractionation in a first fractionation unit, obtaining vapor fraction stream S4a being depleted, relative to S3, of at least one of B and obtaining liquid bottoms stream S4b, and subjecting at least part of vapor fraction stream S4a to vapor-liquid fractionation in a second fractionation unit, obtaining vapor fraction stream S4c and liquid bottoms stream S4 being depleted, relative to S4a, of at least one of B; (e) recycling at least a portion of S4 to (a).

Abstract: A continuous process for preparing propylene oxide proceeds by (a) reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in a reaction apparatus in the presence acetonitrile as solvent, obtaining a stream S0 containg propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, at least one further componen B; (b) separating propylene oxide from S0, obtaining stream S1 containing acetonitrile, water and B; (c) dividing Sa into streams S2 and S3; (d) subjects S3 to vapor-liquid fractionation in a first fractionation unit, obtaining vapor fraction stream S4a being depleted, relative to S3, of at least one of B and obtaining liquid bottoms stream S4b, and subjecting at least part of vapor fraction stream S4a to vapor-liquid fractionation in a second fractionation unit, obtaining vapor fraction stream S4c and liquid bottoms stream S4 being depleted, relative to S4a, of at least one of B; (e) recycling at least a portion of S4 to (a).

Abstract: A continuous process for the preparation of propylene oxide, comprising (a) reacting propene, optionally admixed with propane, with hydrogen peroxide in a reaction apparatus in the presence of acetonitrile as solvent, obtaining a stream S0 containing propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, at least one further component B, optionally propene and optionally propane, wherein the normal boiling point of the at least one component B is higher than the normal boiling point of acetonitrile and wherein the decadic logarithm of the octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow) of the at least one component B is greater than zero; (b) separating propylene oxide from S0, obtaining a stream S1 containing acetonitrile, water and the at least one further component B; (c) dividing S1 into two streams S2 and S3; (d) subjecting S3 to a vapor-liquid fractionation in a fractionation unit, obtaining a vapor fraction stream S4 being depleted of the at least one component B; (e) recycling at least a portion of S4, optionally after

Abstract: A continuous process for the preparation of propylene oxide, comprising (a) reacting propene, optionally admixed with propane, with hydrogen peroxide in a reaction apparatus in the presence of acetonitrile as solvent, obtaining a stream S0 containing propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, at least one further component B, optionally propene and optionally propane, wherein the normal boiling point of the at least one component B is higher than the normal boiling point of acetonitrile and wherein the decadic logarithm of the octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow) of the at least one component B is greater than zero; (b) separating propylene oxide from S0, obtaining a stream S1 containing acetonitrile, water and the at least one further component B; (c) dividing S1 into two streams S2 and S3; (d) subjecting S3 to a vapor-liquid fractionation in a fractionation unit, obtaining a vapor fraction stream S4 being depleted of the at least one component B; (e) recycling at least a portion of S4, optionally after

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reducing the total organic carbon (TOC) in an aqueous mixture M1 obtained as wastewater from a process for the preparation of an olefin oxide, the process for reducing the TOC comprising: (a) contacting the mixture M1 which contains at least one oxygenate having from 1 to 16 carbon atoms with an adsorbing agent and adsorbing at least a portion of an oxygenate at the adsorbing agent; (b) separating an aqueous mixture M2 from the adsorbing agent, the mixture M2 being depleted of the oxygenate adsorbed in (a); and (c) separating an oxygenate from the mixture M2 obtained in (b) by subjecting the mixture M2 to reverse osmosis in at least one reverse osmosis unit containing a reverse osmosis membrane obtaining an aqueous mixture M3 being depleted of this oxygenate.

Abstract: A continuous process for the preparation of propylene oxide, comprising (a) reacting propene, optionally admixed with propane, with hydrogen peroxide in a reaction apparatus in the presence of acetonitrile as solvent, obtaining a stream S0 containing propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, at least one further component B, optionally propene and optionally propane, wherein the normal boiling point of the at least one component B is higher than the normal boiling point of acetonitrile and wherein the decadic logarithm of the octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow) of the at least one component B is greater than zero; (b) separating propylene oxide from S0, obtaining a stream S1 containing acetonitrile, water and the at least one further component B; (c) dividing S1 into two streams S2 and S3; (d) subjecting S3 to a vapor-liquid fractionation in a fractionation unit, obtaining a vapor fraction stream S4 being depleted of the at least one component B; (e) recycling at least a portion of S4, optionally after

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of chlorohydrins, comprising generating a chlorohydrins processing stream and contacting at least a portion of a surface comprising a austenitic stainless steel with the chlorohydrin processing stream. It has now been surprisingly discovered that certain stainless steels can be utilized to form portions, or the entirety of, one or more pieces of processing equipment utilized in such processes.