Abstract: Methods of and systems for producing an olefin are disclosed. A paraffin is dehydrogenated to produce a mixture comprising the olefin and unreacted paraffin. The mixture is then fed to an extractive distillation unit that uses soybean oil as a solvent to extract at least some n-butane from the mixture.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing butadiene are disclosed. In a reaction unit, n-butane is dehydrogenated in the presence of a double-dehydrogenation catalyst to produce a mixture that includes butadiene and unreacted n-butane. An extractive distillation unit that uses soybean oil as the solvent is utilized to extract at least some of the unreacted n-butane from the mixture.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for producing an olefin are disclosed. A paraffin is dehydrogenated to produce a mixture comprising the olefin and unreacted paraffin. The mixture is then fed to an extractive distillation unit that uses soybean oil as a solvent to extract at least some n-butane from the mixture.

Abstract: A method for recovering ethylene from cracked gas comprises: (a) hydrogenating a composition comprising acetylene and an acetylene extraction solvent to produce a first gaseous hydrocarbon stream and a first liquid stream; (b) contacting the first gaseous hydrocarbon stream with a second acetylene extraction solvent stream in an acetylene scrubber unit to produce a second liquid stream and a gaseous ethylene product stream; (c) contacting the first liquid stream of step (a) with the second liquid stream of step (b) in an ethylene stripper unit to produce a recovered gaseous ethylene stream and a third liquid stream; and (d) providing the recovered gaseous ethylene stream to step (b).

Abstract: A propylene oxide separation system that comprises a distillation column, a decanter, and water wash system. The distillation column is configured to receive a crude propylene oxide stream, discharge an impurity stream that comprises methanol and water, and discharge a bottoms stream that comprises a majority of the propylene oxide entering in the crude propylene oxide stream. The decanter is configured to receive at least a portion of the impurity stream and a hydrocarbon solvent to provide for formation in the decanter of an organic phase and an aqueous phase. The organic phase comprises propylene oxide and hydrocarbon solvent, and is sent to the distillation column. The aqueous phase comprises a majority weight percent of the methanol and the water entering in the impurity stream. The water wash system is configured to receive and purge the aqueous phase from the propylene oxide separation system.

Abstract: A process for forming a concentrated solution, including distilling in a distillation zone comprised of 10 or more theoretical distillation stages, at a pressure of no greater than 300 mm Hg and a reflux ratio (D/L) of at least 1:1, an amount of an initial solution comprised of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) in tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) having a TBHP concentration of up to 60 wt. % and a total impurity content greater than 0.01 wt. %, for a time and under distillation conditions to form a concentrated solution comprised of TBHP in TBA; and separating an overhead distillate from the distillation zone so that the concentrated solution thereafter has a TBHP concentration greater than 60 wt. %, a TBA concentration less than 40 wt. %, a water impurity content no greater than 0.1 wt. % and a total impurity content of no greater than 1 wt. %. Related epoxidation catalyst formation and epoxidation processes are also described.

Abstract: A process for forming a concentrated solution, including distilling in a distillation zone comprised of 10 or more theoretical distillation stages, at a pressure of no greater than 300 mm Hg and a reflux ratio (D/L) of at least 1:1, an amount of an initial solution comprised of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) in tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) having a TBHP concentration of up to 60 wt. % and a total impurity content greater than 0.01 wt. %, for a time and under distillation conditions to form a concentrated solution comprised of TBHP in TBA; and separating an overhead distillate from the distillation zone so that the concentrated solution thereafter has a TBHP concentration greater than 60 wt. %, a TBA concentration less than 40 wt. %, a water impurity content no greater than 0.1 wt. % and a total impurity content of no greater than 1 wt. %. Related epoxidation catalyst formation and epoxidation processes are also described.

Abstract: A propylene oxide separation system that comprises a distillation column, a decanter, and water wash system. The distillation column is configured to receive a crude propylene oxide stream, discharge an impurity stream that comprises methanol and water, and discharge a bottoms stream that comprises a majority of the propylene oxide entering in the crude propylene oxide stream. The decanter is configured to receive at least a portion of the impurity stream and a hydrocarbon solvent to provide for formation in the decanter of an organic phase and an aqueous phase. The organic phase comprises propylene oxide and hydrocarbon solvent, and is sent to the distillation column. The aqueous phase comprises a majority weight percent of the methanol and the water entering in the impurity stream. The water wash system is configured to receive and purge the aqueous phase from the propylene oxide separation system.

Abstract: A propylene oxide separation system that comprises a distillation column, a decanter, and water wash system. The distillation column is configured to receive a crude propylene oxide stream, discharge an impurity stream that comprises methanol and water, and discharge a bottoms stream that comprises a majority of the propylene oxide entering in the crude propylene oxide stream. The decanter is configured to receive at least a portion of the impurity stream and a hydrocarbon solvent to provide for formation in the decanter of an organic phase and an aqueous phase. The organic phase comprises propylene oxide and hydrocarbon solvent, and is sent to the distillation column. The aqueous phase comprises a majority weight percent of the methanol and the water entering in the impurity stream. The water wash system is configured to receive and purge the aqueous phase from the propylene oxide separation system.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for separating propylene oxide for a crude propylene oxide stream, for example an intermediate stream from a PO/TBA process. The crude propylene oxide stream can be passed through an extractive distillation column. The distillation column is operated at a pressure in a range of greater than 25 up to 50 psig, and/or at a temperature in a range of from 70 to 150 degrees Celsius using C8-C20 paraffin as extractive solvent with an overhead distillate water wash drum. The crude propylene oxide stream include from 0.001 to 0.1 wt % methanol, based on the total composition of the crude propylene oxide stream. The systems, methods, and apparatuses can produce a propylene oxide stream having less formaldehyde and acetaldehyde than the prior art.

Abstract: A propylene oxide separation system that comprises a distillation column, a decanter, and water wash system. The distillation column is configured to receive a crude propylene oxide stream, discharge an impurity stream that comprises methanol and water, and discharge a bottoms stream that comprises a majority of the propylene oxide entering in the crude propylene oxide stream. The decanter is configured to receive at least a portion of the impurity stream and a hydrocarbon solvent to provide for formation in the decanter of an organic phase and an aqueous phase. The organic phase comprises propylene oxide and hydrocarbon solvent, and is sent to the distillation column. The aqueous phase comprises a majority weight percent of the methanol and the water entering in the impurity stream. The water wash system is configured to receive and purge the aqueous phase from the propylene oxide separation system.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for separating propylene oxide for a crude propylene oxide stream, for example an intermediate stream from a PO/TBA process. The crude propylene oxide stream can be passed through an extractive distillation column. The distillation column is operated at a pressure in a range of greater than 25 up to 50 psig, and/or at a temperature in a range of from 70 to 150 degrees Celsius using C8-C20 paraffin as extractive solvent with an overhead distillate water wash drum. The crude propylene oxide stream include from 0.001 to 0.1 wt % methanol, based on the total composition of the crude propylene oxide stream. The systems, methods, and apparatuses can produce a propylene oxide stream having less formaldehyde and acetaldehyde than the prior art.

Abstract: A process for making propylene oxide from propylene is disclosed. The process comprises reacting propylene, oxygen, and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst and a solvent to produce a reaction mixture comprising propylene oxide. Separation of propylene, oxygen, hydrogen, and propylene oxide from the reaction mixture results in a residual mixture comprising methanol. A portion of the residual mixture is recycled to the reaction. A portion of the residual mixture is distilled to generate a distilled methanol stream, which is recycled to the reaction.

Abstract: Product propylene oxide in a reaction mixture resulting from the reaction of propylene, oxygen and hydrogen or from the reaction of propylene and hydrogen peroxide is separated from propylene and/or propane by extractive distillation using methanol and/or water extractive distillation solvent.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of alkylene oxide by catalytic reaction of olefin, hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of promoting buffer salts, the improvement wherein the buffer salts are recovered by electrodialysis and/or crystallization and recycled to the catalytic reaction.

Abstract: A process for making propylene oxide from propylene is disclosed. The process comprises reacting propylene, oxygen, and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, a solvent, and a buffer to produce a reaction mixture comprising propylene oxide. Separation of light components from the reaction mixture gives a heavy residue comprising the buffer. The buffer is precipitated from the heavy residue by a precipitating agent.

Abstract: A process for making propylene oxide from propylene is disclosed. The process comprises reacting propylene, oxygen, and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst and a solvent to produce a reaction mixture comprising propylene oxide. Separation of propylene, oxygen, hydrogen, and propylene oxide from the reaction mixture results in a residual mixture comprising methanol. A portion of the residual mixture is recycled to the reaction. A portion of the residual mixture is distilled to generate a distilled methanol stream, which is recycled to the reaction.

Abstract: A process for making propylene oxide from propylene is disclosed. Propylene, hydrogen, and oxygen are reacted in a slurry comprising a catalyst and a solvent to produce a gaseous product stream and a liquid product stream. The gaseous product stream is contacted with an absorbent to produce a gas effluent and a liquid effluent. The gas effluent is recycled to the reaction step.

Abstract: A process for making propylene oxide from propylene is disclosed. The process comprises reacting propylene, oxygen, and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, a solvent, and a buffer to produce a reaction mixture comprising propylene oxide. Separation of light components from the reaction mixture gives a heavy residue comprising the buffer. The buffer is precipitated from the heavy residue by a precipitating agent.

Abstract: A process for making propylene oxide from propylene is disclosed. Propylene, hydrogen, and oxygen are reacted in a slurry comprising a catalyst and a solvent to produce a gaseous product stream and a liquid product stream. The gaseous product stream is contacted with an absorbent to produce a gas effluent and a liquid effluent. The gas effluent is recycled to the reaction step.