EPOXIDATION OF PROPYLENE WHEREIN A MEMBRANE IS USED FOR SEPARATING THE PHOSPHINE AND/OR PHOSPHINE OXIDE PROMOTER FROM THE PRODUCT

摘要

A process for the production of propylene oxide by catalytic reaction of propylene, oxygene and hydrogen in a liquid solvent and wherein a phosphine and/or phosphine oxide promoter is used, characterised by the separation of phosphine and/or phosphine oxide promoters with a membrane effective to retain the said phosphine and/or phosphine oxide promoters while permitting passage of propylene oxide and solvent. Preferably the promoter is triphenyl phosphine and the membrane is a hydrophilic nanofiltration or reverse osmosis membrane.