Abstract: A filter that is used in conjunction with a non-specific gas sensor for PAA, which allows specific detection of PAA vapor in the presence of hydrogen peroxide vapor through the removal of the hydrogen peroxide vapor. The filter contains a filter catalyst that will catalyze the disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide but not react with PAA vapor, thus removing the hydrogen peroxide vapor and allowing the peracetic vapor to pass through the filter to the sensor.

Abstract: Processes for reducing the amount of a gaseous iodide-containing impurity present in a recycle gas stream used in the production of ethylene oxide, in particular an alkyl iodide impurity, are provided. Processes for producing ethylene oxide, ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided.

Abstract: There is provided a process for manipulating the amount of alkyl alcohol in a product stream, e.g., such as an alkylene oxide product stream. More particularly, and in contrast to conventional processes wherein substantially all of the alkyl alcohol must be separated and desirably recycled, in the present process, a greater amount of alkyl alcohol may be allowed to remain in a partially refined alkylene oxide product stream. The residual alkyl alcohol is subsequently substantially entirely reacted to form a downstream product, e.g., a glycol ether, which is more easily separated from the alkylene oxide product stream. Indeed, the amount of alkyl alcohol in the partially refined alkylene oxide product stream can be selected based upon the output of glycol ethers, if desired.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for refining polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers by catalytic hydrogenation using a slurry bed, wherein, using a slurry bed reactor for refining by hydrogenation, an equilibrium system containing polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers products is refined by catalytic hydrogenation, so as to remove formaldehyde contained therein. The refining method by hydrogenation described in the present invention can remarkably increase the separation and purification efficiency of polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers, and the polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers obtained after subsequent rectification have a purity greater than 99.5%, a product yield greater than 97% and an atom utilization ratio close to 100%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for refining polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers by catalytic hydrogenation using a fixed bed, wherein, using a fixed bed reactor for refining by hydrogenation, an equilibrium system containing polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers products is refined by catalytic hydrogenation, so as to remove formaldehyde contained therein. The refining method by hydrogenation described in the present invention can remarkably increase the separation and purification efficiency of polyoxymethylene dialkyl ether products with various polymerization degree, and the polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers obtained after subsequent rectification have a purity greater than 99.5%, a product yield greater than 97% and an atom utilization ratio close to 100%.

Abstract: There is provided a process for manipulating the amount of alkyl alcohol in a product stream, e.g., such as an alkylene oxide product stream. More particularly, and in contrast to conventional processes wherein substantially all of the alkyl alcohol must be separated and desirably recycled, in the present process, a greater amount of alkyl alcohol may be allowed to remain in a partially refined alkylene oxide product stream. The residual alkyl alcohol is subsequently substantially entirely reacted to form a downstream product, e.g., a glycol ether, which is more easily separated from the alkylene oxide product stream. Indeed, the amount of alkyl alcohol in the partially refined alkylene oxide product stream can be selected based upon the output of glycol ethers, if desired.

Abstract: A new purification technique for alkylene oxides is described. The technique is safer than previously reported methods and does not require cooling of the purification vessel. In a solution of a high-boiling point solvent and butyllithium, an alkylene oxide is added and allowed to react at ambient temperature. The impurities readily react with the butyllithium while the alkylene oxide does not. The low-boiling alkylene oxide is then easily distilled out of the high-boiling point solvent as a pure material ready for use in controlled polymerization reactions.

Abstract: The invention is a method of purifying propylene oxide containing 25-100 ppm aldehyde impurities. The method comprises contacting the propylene oxide in the liquid phase with an amine-functionalized ion exchange resin, and recovering a purified propylene oxide product containing 10 ppm, or less, aldehydes.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of ethylene oxide (EO) from fat absorbent (FA) which comprises providing a feed of elevated temperature FA to an EO Stripper, providing a stripping gas feed and contacting the stripping gas feed at elevated temperature with the elevated temperature FA feed, obtaining stripped lean absorbent (LA) and an EO-containing gas, and providing one or more external process stream feeds to the EO Stripper at a location above the elevated temperature FA feed and at a lower temperature with respect to the elevated temperature FA feed thereby concentrating EO in the EO-containing gas. The process can also include one or more impurity removal stages in the form of one or more side draws from the EO Stripper or an EO Stripper Concentrator. The invention also includes an apparatus for performing the process.

Abstract: A new purification technique for alkylene oxides is described. The technique is safer than previously reported methods and does not require cooling of the purification vessel. In a solution of a high-boiling point solvent and butyllithium, an alkylene oxide is added and allowed to react at ambient temperature. The impurities readily react with the butyllithium while the alkylene oxide does not. The low-boiling alkylene oxide is then easily distilled out of the high-boiling point solvent as a pure material ready for use in controlled polymerization reactions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing fucoxanthin extract, said method comprising: performing absorption of the fucoxanthin extract by using absorbent and then performing elution to remove heavy metals and arsenic salt contained in the fucoxanthin extract, wherein the absorbent is selected from a group having macroporous resin, polyamide, activated carbon, alumina and a combination thereof. The method for producing fucoxanthin extract according to the present invention, the content of heave metal in the fucoxanthin extract can be reduced, while the content of fucoxanthin in the fucoxanthin extract can increase. In addition, the present invention also provides a fucoxanthin extract obtained by the above method, as well as fucoxanthin products containing the fucoxanthin extract.

Abstract: The method presented represents a possibility for separating emulsions derived from whole-cell biotransformations, which method makes it possible to effectively separate stable emulsions derived from typical biocatalytic two-phase processes that result in connection with such a biotransformation, by means of at least one compressed or supercritical gas. In this connection, a supercritical extraction to obtain the valuable product can follow directly, because of the use of compressed or supercritical gas as the separation agent. It is unimportant, in this connection, whether the valuable product is present in the aqueous or the organic phase. Recycling of the organic phase is possible, since the surfactant cell components, which are decisively responsible for the formation of the stable emulsion, can be separated off by means of sedimentation, because of the treatment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include processes and systems for recovering alkylene oxide. System embodiments include a stripping section located in an alkylene oxide recovery column to convert a feed stream comprising to a first gas phase portion comprising alkylene oxide, a condensing zone comprising at least a first condenser and a second condenser configured in series, and a reabsorption region located in the alkylene oxide recovery column above the last of the at least two condensers.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of ethylene oxide (EO) from fat absorbent (FA) which comprises providing a feed of elevated temperature FA to an EO Stripper, providing a stripping gas feed and contacting the stripping gas feed at elevated temperature with the elevated temperature FA feed, obtaining stripped lean absorbent (LA) and an EO-containing gas, and providing one or more external process stream feeds to the EO Stripper at a location above the elevated temperature FA feed and at a lower temperature with respect to the elevated temperature FA feed thereby concentrating EO in the EO-containing gas. The process can also include one or more impurity removal stages in the form of one or more side draws from the EO Stripper or an EO Stripper Concentrator. The invention also includes an apparatus for performing the process.

Abstract: A method of separating propylene oxide from a mixture (M) comprising propylene oxide and methanol, said method comprising: (i) introducing said mixture (M) into an extractive distillation column; (ii) additionally introducing an extracting solvent into said extractive distillation column; (iii) distilling propylene oxide overhead from said extractive distillation column as top stream; (iv) withdrawing a bottoms stream from said extractive distillation column; (v) compressing the top stream obtained overhead in (iii) by means of at least one compressor to give a compressed vapor.

Abstract: Phosphine and/or phosphine oxide promoters are effectively separated from propylene oxide reaction solvents through use of a membrane effective to retain the phosphine and/or phosphine oxide.

Abstract: A process for preparing organic hydroperoxide having a reduced content of contaminants, which process involves: (a) oxidation of an organic compound to obtain reaction product containing an organic hydroperoxide; (b) contacting at least part of the organic hydroperoxide containing reaction product with a basic aqueous solution; (c) separating the hydrocarbonaceous phase containing organic hydroperoxide from the aqueous phase; (d) washing at least part of the separated hydrocarbonaceous phase containing organic hydroperoxide; and (e) contacting at least part of the hydrocarbonaceous phase containing organic hydroperoxide with a guard bed having solid adsorbent with a void content of from 50% to 98% by volume.

Abstract: The subject invention provides polyurethane foam and a method of purifying polyether polyols of non-volatile impurities for use in forming the polyurethane foam. The method includes the step of providing a crude polyether polyol having a non-volatile impurity present therein. The crude polyether polyol is contacted with an adsorbent selected from at least one of activated carbon, diatomaceous earth, charcoal, attapulgite, and clay to remove the impurity and filtered to form a purified polyether polyol. The filtering of the crude polyether polyol is carried out through a filter media that is used both in a pre-filtering step prior to adding the adsorbent and the filtering step to remove the adsorbent to reduce losses of the purified polyether polyol because of its high viscosity. The purified polyether polyol is then used to form a polyurethane foam having improved stability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of removing organic halogen-containing compounds from a liquid stream mainly containing one or more of the compounds selected from the group consisting of glycol, water and alcohol, which process involves contacting the stream with an ion-exchange material containing basic anions selected from the group of hydroxide, carbonate and bicarbonate.

Abstract: A process for purifying propylene oxide containing an unacceptable quantity of a poly (propylene oxide) polymer contaminant having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000 and precursors having a number average molecular weight below 50,000. The process comprises contacting the propylene oxide with a sorbent selected from activated carbon, charcoal, and attapulgite for a time and under conditions sufficient to reduce the amount of the contaminant to acceptable levels, and thereafter recovering the purified propylene oxide product, wherein the propylene oxide is contacted with the sorbent at a temperature below 10° C.

Abstract: Oxidation products are recovered from a mixture of the products in a dense phase or supercritical solvent by a liquid—liquid extraction at dense phase conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to alicyclic epoxy compounds obtained by selectively hydrogenating aromatic rings of aromatic epoxy compounds in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, the concentration of the platinum group element in the product alicyclic epoxy compound being not more than 2 ppm.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of combustible components of a gas stream containing the combustible components and oxygen by selective absorption of the combustible components in a solvent, whereby during the absorption the gas phase is dispersed in a continuous liquid phase of the solvent. In a preferred embodiment the process is applied to give a process for the epoxidation of propene with hydrogen peroxide in the alcoholic solvent in presence of a catalyst, wherein a gas stream including unreacted propene, propene oxide and oxygen from the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide is separated from the epoxidation reaction mixture and the combustible components in said gas stream are recovered using the process as described above.

Abstract: A method for processing at least one cyclic organo-oxide using a closed loop scrubber/holding tank system that contains at least one amine, and circulating the amine through the closed loop while admitting the cyclic organo-oxide to the closed loop.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, methods have been developed for the reduction of the chloride content of epoxy compound starting materials. Invention methods comprise fractionating an epoxy compound starting material into portions (e.g., fractions or cuts) having different chloride content relative to the epoxy compound starting material. Certain of these collected portions (i.e., the portions fractionated and collected after collection of the forecut and before discontinuation of the fractionation) contain substantially reduced chloride levels relative to the epoxy compound starting material.

Abstract: An optical resolver comprising an optically active substance made of tris-(2,3-epoxypropyl)isocyanurate, is presented. The optical resolver comprises an optically active tris-(epoxyalkyl)isocyanurate or its derivative, or an optically active derivative of a tris-(epoxyalkyl)isocyanurate. Particularly, the optical resolver comprises optically active tris-(2,3-epoxypropyl)isocyanurate or its derivative, or an optically active derivative of tris-(2,3-epoxypropyl)isocyanurate. Having supported on a carrier, an optically active tris-(2,3-epoxypropyl)isocyanurate or its derivative, or an optically active derivative of tris-(2,3-epoxypropyl)isocyanurate, can be made to be a packing for use in high-performance liquid chromatography, whereby efficient optical resolution can be carried out.

Abstract: A process for the working up of a product stream from the epoxidation of olefins that contains olefin, olefin oxide, water-miscible organic solvent and water, by separating this product stream into an overhead product containing olefin, olefin oxide and organic solvent, and into a bottom product containing organic solvent and water, wherein the separation takes place in a pre-evaporator with less than 10 theoretical separation stages at a pressure of 1.5 to less than 3 bar, and 20 to 60% of the total amount of organic solvent introduced with the product stream is removed with the overhead product and the balance remains in the bottom product. A process for the epoxidation of olefins that includes this working up stage is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tetramethylbiphenyl type high performance epoxy resin composition and a curable epoxy resin composition containing the epoxy resin, useful in electrical and electronic fields and the like. The tetramethylbiphenyl type epoxy resin composition comprises an epoxy resin composition obtained by reacting 4,4′-dihydroxy-3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbiphenyl and an epihalohydrin in the presence of an alkali metal compound. The composition has a content of tetramethyldiphenoquinone of 0.5% by weight or less and a content of a glycidyl compound represented by the following structural formula (1): of 0.5% by weight or less. The curable epoxy resin composition contains the epoxy resin composition and a hardener for the epoxy resin.

Abstract: Epoxyalkanes are subjected to at least one of the following washing operations: (1) washing with aqueous inorganic base, and then with aqueous borohydride, or vice versa; or (2) washing with an aqueous solution of both inorganic base and borohydride. Undesirable odor is reduced or eliminated from alkanediol(s), if produced from the treated epoxyalkane(s) by hydrolysis. Use of such washing procedures in the production of alkanediols is also described.

Abstract: Process for improving the quality of a propylene oxide contaminated with poly(propylene oxide), which process comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the liquid propylene oxide with an adsorbent consisting of magnesium silicate and/or calcium silicate under such conditions that the amount of poly(propylene oxide) is reduced to the desired level, and (b) recovering the purified propylene oxide product.

Abstract: A process for producing a phenolic resin of good hue, characterized by reacting a hydroxylated aromatic compound with an unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon compound in the presence of both active hydrogen and a reducing metal compound with the aid of an acid catalyst, subsequently deactivating the catalyst, and then removing the catalyst, the metal compound, and the starting materials remaining unreacted; and a process for producing an epoxy resin which comprises a step of reacting the phenolic resin with an epihalohydrin. By these processes, a phenolic resin and an epoxy resin are obtained which each is colored little and has an excellent hue. These resins are useful as resins for electrically insulating materials, especially as resins for semiconductor encapsulation materials and for laminated plates.

Abstract: A process for producing phenol resin having good color tone, which process comprises reacting hydroxyl group-containing aromatic compound and unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon under the condition that the moisture is 100 ppm or less and the concentration of Friedel-Crafts catalyst is 0.07 mass % or less in a reaction system and a process for producing epoxy resin having good color tone, which process comprises reacting the obtained phenol resin and epihalohydrin in the presence of base catalyst, removing remaining catalyst and further removing unreacted epihalohydrin.

Abstract: A process for refining epoxy compounds, wherein the process comprises: (a) providing a washed and dried organic phase comprising at least one epoxide compound; (b) contacting the organic phase with at least one basic solid selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxides, aluminum hydroxides and alkali metal silicates; and (c) separating the organic phase and the at least one basic solid, is disclosed.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, methods have been developed for the reduction of the chloride content of epoxy compound starting materials. Invention methods comprise subjecting specifically defined combinations comprising an epoxy resin starting material and other components to conditions sufficient to produce a treated epoxy compound (i.e., an epoxy compound having a chloride content which is reduced relative to that of the epoxy resin starting material), and separating the treated epoxy compound from the combination. Other components contemplated for use in the practice of the present invention comprise, alternatively, mixtures of crown ether, organic solvent and suitable base; mixtures of crown ether-like solvent and suitable base; mixtures of aprotic solvents and hydrides (other than tin hydride); mixtures of nonhalogenated organic solvent and reducing metal; and the like. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, products (i.e.

Abstract: An insulating material characterized by that said insulating material is made by curing a mixture composed of a bisphenol A type epoxy resin having purity which is equal to or more than 90% and an organic filler, the thermal conductivity thereof is in a range of 5.0.times.10.sup.-3 to 18.0.times.10.sup.-3 (cal/.degree.C..multidot.cm.multidot.sec) and the glass transition temperature thereof is in a range of 164.degree. to 240.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of recovering ethylene oxide comprising the steps of:bringing a mixed gas containing ethylene oxide into contact with an absorbent so as to cause the absorbent to absorb the ethylene oxide; andstripping and separating said ethylene oxide to recover it from the absorbent, where the absorbent contains propylene carbonate. By employing the present invention, it is possible to reduce the heat recovery loss resulting from cooling the absorbent at the time of transfer from the stripping step to the absorption step, to about one-third that compared with a conventional system using water, without producing the by-product ethylene glycol.

Abstract: An insulating material characterized by that said insulating material is made by curing a mixture composed of a bisphenol A type epoxy resin having purity which is equal to or more than 90% and an organic filler, the thermal conductivity thereof is in a range of 5.0.times.10.sup.-3 to 18.0.times.10.sup.-3 (cal/.degree. C..multidot.cm.multidot.sec) and the glass transition temperature thereof is in a range of 164.degree. to 240.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of resolving a mixture of stereoisomers of an aliphatic epoxide containing two or less oxygen atoms is provided. The method comprises utilizing a polysaccharide or a derivative thereof as a resolving agent.

Abstract: Activated carbon to be used in the removal of impurities from propylene oxide is first pre-wetted with a glycol such as propylene glycol; after bed deactivation, water containing a basic catalyst is added to hydrolyze propylene oxide and to form a non-hazardous slurry of carbon, propylene glycol and water.

Abstract: A distillation method for the purification of crude propylene oxide containing contaminating quantities of water and methanol by partially purifying the crude propylene oxide in a plural stage distillation zone to provide a vaporized overhead distillate propylene oxide fraction containing a minor contaminating amount of vaporized water, andpassing the propylene oxide vapor fraction through a drying chamber containing a porous hygroscopic solid absorbent to selectively absorb water vapor onto the absorbent,and liquefying and recovering the thus-dehydrated purified propylene oxide.

Abstract: A method, especially applicable on a continuous basis to commercial process streams, for treating unwanted by-products and/or impurities contained in those streams. The method comprises the reaction in situ of such by-products or impurities with a reagent, preferably selected for its reactivity under ambient conditions of the process stream, to produce one or more materials which may then be separated from the process by economical means. The treated stream may be recycled to the process for further processing. While the method is not limited as to the process to which it is applied nor to the reagent or reagents used, in one convenient embodiment, formaldehyde in aqueous solution is reacted with an alkali metal sulfite or bisulfite to produce the corresponding salt, which may then be separated essentially completely by, e.g., distillation or membrane separation, etc., or its concentration in the process may be controlled by, e.g., continuous removal of a purge stream, etc.

Abstract: A method for removing organic halide contaminants from alkylene carbonates is disclosed. Organic halide contaminants are removed from alkylene carbonates by contacting the contaminated alkylene carbonate with hydrotalcite.

Abstract: The method for the separating close-boiling impurities from propylene oxide essentially free of high molecular weight poly (propylene oxide) which comprises contacting the impure propylene oxide with solid activated carbon adsorbent and separating propylene oxide reduced in impurities content from the adsorbent.

Abstract: A method is provided for supplying the desired optical isomer of a derivative of epoxypropionic acid from a racemix mixture. A representative derivative of epoxypropionic acid is an ester of (p-methoxyphenyl)epoxypropionic acid. The racemic mixture initially is dissolved in carbon dioxide and the resulting solution is passed through a chromatographic column. The desired isomer is subsequently separated from the resulting eluant. In a preferred embodiment the chromatographic column is packed with microcrystallized cellulosetriacetate, cellulose-tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate), or cellulose-tris-(p-methylphenylcarbamate).

Abstract: A process for purifying propylene oxide containing an unacceptable quantity of poly(propylene oxide) contaminant having a molecular weight of at least about 50,000, which comprises contacting the so-contaminated propylene oxide with a quantity of a substantially non-calcined diatomaceous earth for a time and under conditions sufficient to reduce the amount of such contaminant in such propylene oxide to acceptable levels, and recovering the purified propylene oxide product. Also, processes for making polyether polyols from such purified propylene oxide products, and for making high resilient flexible polyurethane foams from such polyols.

Abstract: The method for the separating close-boiling impurities from C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 l alkylene oxide which comprises contacting the impure alkylene oxide with solid activated carbon adsorbent and separating alkylene oxide reduced in impurities content from the adsorbent.

Abstract: A method is provided for the separation by extractive distillation of hydrocarbon impurities from lower alkylene oxides such as propylene oxide wherein a glycol having 2 to 5 carbon atoms is used as extractive solvent.

Abstract: Methyl formate is removed from impure propylene oxide by contacting the impure propylene oxide in a treating zone with a basic ion exchange resin for a period of time sufficient to convert the methyl formate to formic acid and methanol, and by withdrawing a substantially methyl formate-free treated propylene oxide product from the treating zone.

Abstract: The method for the separating methyl formate from lower alkylene oxide such as propylene oxide which comprises contacting the impure alkylene oxide with basic ion exchange resin and separating alkylene oxide reduced in methyl formate content.

Abstract: A method is provided for the separation by extractive distillation of hydrocarbon impurities from propylene oxide wherein t-butyl alcohol/water is used as extractive distillation solvent.