Abstract: Crude propylene oxide is purified by a distillation process wherein it is (a) extractively distilled in a first column using a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkylene glycol extractive distillation agent to form a first overhead fraction comprising propylene oxide, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 hydrocarbons, methanol, water and oxygen-containing impurities, (b) wherein the first overhead fraction is separated in a plurality of intermediate distillation columns to provide an intermediate propylene oxide overhead fraction consisting essentially of propylene oxide and water, and (c) the intermediate propylene oxide overhead fraction is charged to a final distillation column using a C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkylene glycol extractive distillation agent to form a final overhead fraction consisting essentially of propylene oxide.

Abstract: In reacting tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in solution in tertiary butyl alcohol with propylene to produce propylene oxide and tertiary butyl alcohol in a reactor system comprising a first isothermal segment and a second adiabatic segment about 60 to 80 wt % of the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide is converted in the isothermal segment to provide an intermediate reaction mixture, a recycle stream comprising about 25 to 100 wt. % of the combined weight of the propylene and the tertiary butyl alcohol solution is removed from the intermediate reaction mixture and recycled to the first isothermal segment and the remainder of the intermediate reaction mixture is passed through the adiabatic segment where an additional 20 to 40 wt. % of the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide is converted.

Abstract: This laser beam detector system may comprise an array of photodetectors usable in conjunction with a laser employed to define an elevation or grade. The detector array is utilized on an elongate device having a plurality of faces, with a plurality of detectors disposed in a consistently spaced arrangement on each of the faces. The detectors of each face have a field of view different from the field of view of the detectors of the other faces, and each detector on each face of the array is disposed at the same height as a corresponding detector on each of the other faces. Importantly, each group of detectors at the same height are electrically interconnected into a co-functioning group. Our novel arrangement is such that a laser beam incident on any detector of a co-functioning group is detected, with the position of the detector upon which the beam impinged being identified, and a readout indicative of that detector then provided.

Abstract: An offshore marine structure and method, which structure includes a leg supported deck which holds hydrocarbon fluid processing equipment above the water's surface, and includes vertically aligned conductor guides. A self supporting fluid separator is positioned in said marine structure to receive a multi-phase stream of a hydrocarbon fluid from one or more wells. An upper segment of the fluid separator is slidably registered in vertically aligned conductor guides. A lower segment of the separator is embedded in the sea floor and operably engaged with said upper segment. A conductor riser is adjacently positioned by conductor guides in the marine structure to receive hydrocarbon liquid from the fluid separator. Discrete liquid, and combined vaporous flows are then conducted to the processing equipment for further handling.