Abstract: A reactor and process is for the production of oxirane compounds by reaction of an olefin such as propylene with an organic hydroperoxide using a solid contact catalyst, characterized by the following features:(1) the reactor is divided into a series of separate zones, each zone containing a bed of solid epoxidation catalyst;(2) conditions are maintained so as to provide the liquid phase without substantial vapor formation throughout the entire reactor;(3) cold reactor feed is provided which is preheated to reaction temperature by separate indirect heat exchange with reaction liquid from various of the separate reactor zones;(4) reaction liquid from the last of the series of reaction zones is reduced in pressure to form a gas-liquid mixture at a lower temperature, and this gas liquid mixture is heated by indirect heat exchange with the reaction liquid from at least one of the separate reactor zones.

Abstract: An integrated process is provided for the production of propylene oxide from propane wherein propane is dehydrogenated to propylene and hydrogen and the resulting propylene, propane, and hydrogen mixture together with added oxygen is reacted over a palladium on titanium silicilite catalyst to form propylene oxide, the molar ratio of oxygen to hydrogen in the reaction feed being at least about 2/1.

Abstract: A reactor and process is for the production of oxirane compounds by reaction of an olefin such as propylene with an organic hydroperoxide using a solid contact catalyst, characterized by the following features:(1) the reactor is divided into a series of separate zones, each zone containing a bed of solid epoxidation catalyst;(2) conditions are maintained so as to provide the liquid phase without substantial vapor formation throughout the entire reactor;(3) cold reactor feed is provided which is preheated to reaction temperature by separate indirect heat exchange with reaction liquid from various of the separate reactor zones;(4) reaction liquid from the last of the series of reaction zones is reduced in pressure to form a gas-liquid mixture at a lower temperature, and this gas liquid mixture is heated by indirect heat exchange with the reaction liquid from at least one of the separate reactor zones.

Abstract: An aqueous epoxidation process stream containing molybdenum and sodium values and organics is treated for organics removal as by incineration and an aqueous solution containing molybdenum and sodium is recovered, cooled, acidified and contacted with activated carbon and an aqueous stream reduced in molybdenum is recovered, further molybdenum reduction can be achieved by treatment with basic ion exchange resin.

Abstract: Low value feed hydrocarbons are converted to high octane value tertiary ethers using a multiple riser fluidized solids catalytic reactor wherein in a first riser the hydrocarbon feed is converted to iso and linear C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 olefins, the iso-olefins are etherified, the linear C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 olefins are isomerized to iso C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 olefins in a second riser of the fluidized solids reactor, iso C.sub.4 and C.sub.5 olefins from the second riser are also etherified to high octane value tertiary ethers, and catalyst from both risers is regenerated in a common regeneration zone.

Abstract: A mixed C.sub.4 hydrocarbon stream containing from 5 to 60% isobutene is mixed with methanol providing from about 2% to about 20% excess methanol (stoichiometry based on isobutene content) to provide fresh feed for preparing tertiary butyl methyl ether in a reaction zone containing acidic ion exchange catalyst. Formation of trouble-some amounts of diisobutylene is repressed by the presence of the excess methanol. The effluent comprising TBME, excess methanol, and unreacted C.sub.4 hydrocarbons is directed to a unique purification zone. The butenes are distilled from the effluent at a pressure from about 7 to 25 atmospheres, preferably at about 12 to 20 atmospheres. Surprisingly all of the excess methanol is azeotropically removed with the C.sub.4 hydrocarbons by the pressurized azeotropic distillation, leaving a bottoms consisting of a technical grade of TBME free from troublesome amounts of methanol.