PROPYLENE OXIDE PURIFICATION

摘要

Propylene oxide obtained by an epoxidation process which uses methanol as a solvent may be effectively treated to remove acetaldehyde by subjecting the crude epoxidation reaction product to fractional distillation. The methanol solvent is utilized during such distillation to lower the relative volatility of the acetaldehyde impurity, thereby making it possible to obtain a bottoms fraction containing substantially all the acetaldehyde. Purified propylene oxide having a reduce d acetaldehyde concentration is removed as an overhead stream. Water may also be effectively separated from the propylene oxide using this procedure.