Abstract: A process can be used for recovering 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 2-methoxy-1-propanol from an aqueous effluent stream by liquid-liquid-extraction, followed by extractive distillation, distillation of methoxypropanols from the extraction solvent, and distillative separation of the methoxypropanol isomers. Recovered extraction solvent is recycled to the extraction and extractive distillation. Heat transfer from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation reduces energy demand of the process. A facility for this process contains a countercurrent extraction column, an extractive distillation column, a solvent recovery distillation column, an isomer separation distillation column, and a heat exchanger for transferring heat from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation.

Abstract: A process can be used for recovering 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 2-methoxy-1-propanol from an aqueous effluent stream by liquid-liquid-extraction, followed by extractive distillation, distillation of methoxypropanols from the extraction solvent, and distillative separation of the methoxypropanol isomers. Recovered extraction solvent is recycled to the extraction and extractive distillation. Heat transfer from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation reduces energy demand of the process. A facility for this process contains a countercurrent extraction column, an extractive distillation column, a solvent recovery distillation column, an isomer separation distillation column, and a heat exchanger for transferring heat from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation.

Abstract: In a process for the epoxidation of propene, comprising continuously reacting a propene feed with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst in a reaction step, using propene in excess to hydrogen peroxide, to provide a liquid reaction mixture comprising non-reacted propene, extra safety measures caused by the presence of oxygen during work-up of the liquid reaction mixture of the epoxidation reaction can be avoided by stripping liquid reaction mixture from step a) with an inert gas to provide an oxygen depleted stripped liquid reaction mixture and a strip gas stream, selecting the amount of inert gas to provide an oxygen concentration in the strip gas stream in the range of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, separating non-reacted propene from the strip gas stream and recycling it to the reaction step, and separating propene oxide from the stripped liquid reaction mixture.

Abstract: In a process for the epoxidation of propene, comprising continuously reacting a propene feed with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst in a reaction step, using propene in excess to hydrogen peroxide, to provide a liquid reaction mixture comprising non-reacted propene, extra safety measures caused by the presence of oxygen during work-up of the liquid reaction mixture of the epoxidation reaction can be avoided by stripping liquid reaction mixture from step a) with an inert gas to provide an oxygen depleted stripped liquid reaction mixture and a strip gas stream, selecting the amount of inert gas to provide an oxygen concentration in the strip gas stream in the range of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, separating non-reacted propene from the strip gas stream and recycling it to the reaction step, and separating propene oxide from the stripped liquid reaction mixture.

Abstract: In a process for the epoxidation of propene, comprising the steps of reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide, separating propene oxide and a recovered propene stream from the reaction mixture, separating propane from all or a part of the recovered propene stream in a C3 splitter column, and passing the overhead product stream of the C3 splitter column to the epoxidation step, a propane starting material with a propane fraction of from 0.002 to 0.10 is used, the epoxidation is operated to provide a propane fraction in the reaction mixture of from 0.05 to 0.20 and the C3 splitter column is operated to provide an overhead product stream which comprises a propane fraction of at least 0.04 in order to reduce the size and the energy consumption of the C3 splitter column.

Abstract: Propene is continuously reacted with hydrogen peroxide in a tube bundle reactor comprising a multitude of parallel reaction tubes in the presence of a titanium silicalite catalyst arranged as a fixed bed in the reaction tubes. A cooling jacket encloses the reaction tubes, which has a feed point for cooling medium near the entry of the reaction tubes, a withdrawal point for cooling medium near the end of the reaction tubes and at least one additional withdrawal point upstream of the withdrawal point near the end of the reaction tubes. Cooling medium is fed to the feed point for cooling medium, a part of the cooling medium is withdrawn at the at least one additional withdrawal point and the remainder exits at the withdrawal point near the end of the reaction tubes.

Abstract: Propene is continuously reacted with hydrogen peroxide in a tube bundle reactor comprising a multitude of parallel reaction tubes in the presence of a titanium silicalite catalyst arranged as a fixed bed in the reaction tubes. A cooling jacket encloses the reaction tubes, which has a feed point for cooling medium near the entry of the reaction tubes, a withdrawal point for cooling medium near the end of the reaction tubes and at least one additional withdrawal point upstream of the withdrawal point near the end of the reaction tubes. Cooling medium is fed to the feed point for cooling medium, a part of the cooling medium is withdrawn at the at least one additional withdrawal point and the remainder exits at the withdrawal point near the end of the reaction tubes.

Abstract: In a process for the epoxidation of propene, comprising the steps of reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide, separating propene oxide and a recovered propene stream from the reaction mixture, separating propane from all or a part of the recovered propene stream in a C3 splitter column, and passing the overhead product stream of the C3 splitter column to the epoxidation step, a propane starting material with a propane fraction of from 0.002 to 0.10 is used, the epoxidation is operated to provide a propane fraction in the reaction mixture of from 0.05 to 0.20 and the C3 splitter column is operated to provide an overhead product stream which comprises a propane fraction of at least 0.04 in order to reduce the size and the energy consumption of the C3 splitter column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of epichlorohydrin, wherein a chloropropane-containing ally chloride in excess is reacted in a first reaction stage with hydrogen peroxide. The non-reacted ally chloride is separated and returned to the reaction, wherein part of the separated ally chloride is added to a second reaction stage and reacted with hydrogen peroxide, wherein the hydrogen peroxide quantity is selected in the second reaction stage such that the ally chloride is largely reacted. The chloropropanes are separated from the reaction mixture of the second reaction stage by means of distillation and removed from the process.

Abstract: The invention relates too method for the production of epichlorohydrin, wherein a chloropropane-containing ally chloride in excess is reacted in a first reaction stage with hydrogen peroxide. The non-reacted ally chloride is separated and returned to the reaction, wherein part of the separated ally chloride is added to a second reaction stage and reacted with hydrogen peroxide, wherein the hydrogen peroxide quantity is selected in the second reaction stage such that the ally chloride is largely reacted. The chloropropanes are separated from the reaction mixture of the second reaction stage by means of distillation and removed from the process.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic epoxidation of olefins in the presence of a titanium containing zeolite catalyst and a polar solvent whereby the deactivation of the catalyst upon recycling of the solvent has been considerably reduced. In the process one or more nitrogen containing compounds are introduced at some stage, a solvent stream is recovered, treated to contain less than 50 wppm nitrogen in the form of organic nitrogen compounds and at least a part of it is recycled to the epoxidation step. Also disclosed is a process for the catalytic epoxidation of propene which integrates the treatment and recycle of the solvent into the workup of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A process for recovering methanol from mixtures containing methanol and water, comprising multistage evaporation with heat integration, wherein the pressure is reduced from each stage to the next, and a downstream series of distillation stages with heat integration, wherein the pressure is increased from each stage to the next. The process reduces the amount of energy required for methanol recovery.

Abstract: A process for the epoxidation of olefins which includes i) reacting an olefin with hydrogen peroxide in presence of an epoxidation catalyst and an alcoholic solvent; ii) separating product olefin oxide and unreacted olefin from the reaction product of step i); iii) recovering a stream comprising the alcoholic solvent; and iv) subjecting the recovered stream of step iii) to hydrogenation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for increasing the selectivity of the hydrogenation of 4,4?-diaminodiphenylmethane (4,4?-MDA) to diaminodicyclohexylmethane (4,4?-HMDA) by catalytic hydrogenation of a mixture containing 4,4?-MDA as the main component and its mono-N-methyl derivative as a secondary component. According to the invention, the hydrogenation is terminated before a conversion of 4,4?-MDA to 4,4?-HMDA of 99% is achieved. Under these conditions, a substantially smaller proportion of the N-methyl-4,4?-MDA is hydrogenated to N-methyl-4,4-HMDA.

Abstract: A process for recovering methanol from mixtures containing methanol and water, comprising multistage evaporation with heat integration, wherein the pressure is reduced from each stage to the next, and a downstream series of distillation stages with heat integration, wherein the pressure is increased from each stage to the next. The process reduces the amount of energy required for methanol recovery.

Abstract: A process for the purification of a crude propene oxide containing methanol and acetaldehyde by a continuously operated extractive distillation using an extraction solvent lowering the volatility of methanol and feeding a compound containing an unsubstituted NH2 group capable of reacting with acetaldehyde to a distillation column at a point above the feeding point of the crude propene oxide to give a purified propene oxide containing less than 100 ppm methanol and less than 100 ppm acetaldehyde. There is also disclosed a process for the catalytic epoxidation of propene that includes this purification stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for increasing the selectivity of the hydrogenation of 4,4?-diaminodiphenylmethane (4,4?-MDA) to diaminodicyclohexylmethane (4,4?-HMDA) by catalytic hydrogenation of a mixture containing 4,4?-MDA as the main component and its mono-N-methyl derivative as a secondary component. According to the invention, the hydrogenation is terminated before a conversion of 4,4?-MDA to 4,4?-HMDA of 99% is achieved. Under these conditions, a substantially smaller proportion of the N-methyl-4,4?-MDA is hydrogenated to N-methyl-4,4-HMDA.

Abstract: A process for the continuous epoxidation of propene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a titanium silicalite catalyst and a methanol solvent, wherein the catalyst is periodically regenerated by washing with a methanol solvent at a temperature of at least 100° C. and the epoxidation reaction is carried out for periods of more than 300 h between two regeneration steps.

Abstract: A continuous process for the epoxidation of olefins with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst promoting the epoxidation reaction, whereby the aqueous reaction mixture contains i) an olefin; ii) hydrogen peroxide; iii) less than 100 wppm of alkali metals, earth alkali metals, both irrespective whether in ionic, complex or covalently bonded form, bases or cations of bases having a pkB of less than 4.5, or combinations thereof; and, iv) at least 100 wppm of bases or cations of bases having a pkB of at least 4.5 or combinations thereof, whereby the wppm are based on the total weight of hydrogen peroxide in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A process for the continuous epoxidation of propene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a titanium silicalite catalyst and a methanol solvent, wherein the catalyst is periodically regenerated by washing with a methanol solvent at a temperature of at least 100° C. and the epoxidation reaction is carried out for periods of more than 300 h between two regeneration steps.