Process for beta-lactone production

摘要

The present application provides a method for producing an beta-lactone product. The method includes the steps of: reacting an epoxide, a solvent with a carbonylation catalyst and carbon monoxide to produce a reaction stream comprising a beta-lactone then separating a portion of the beta-lactone in the reaction stream from the solvent and carbonylation catalyst to produce: i) a beta-lactone stream with the beta-lactone, and ii) a catalyst recycling stream including the carbonylation catalyst and the high boiling solvent; and adding the catalyst recycling stream to the feed stream.

主权项

1. A continuous method of making a beta-propiolactone from ethylene oxide, the method comprising steps of:
reacting, in a reactor, the contents of a feed stream comprising ethylene oxide, a solvent, a carbonylation catalyst and carbon monoxide to produce a liquid reaction product stream comprising beta-propiolactone and carbonylation catalyst; separating, outside the reactor, at least a portion of the beta-propiolactone in the reaction product stream from the carbonylation catalyst to produce:
i) a beta-propiolactone stream comprising beta-propiolactone, andii) a liquid catalyst recycling stream comprising carbonylation catalyst; and adding the liquid catalyst recycling stream to the feed stream; the method further comprising: treating the beta-propiolactone stream under conditions to convert the beta-propiolactone into a compound selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, acrylates, acrylamide, and polyacrylates.