PROCESS FOR PRODUCING PROPYLENE OXIDE

摘要

A process for producing propylene oxide, which comprises steps described below, wherein isopropylbenzene hydroperoxide supplied to an epoxidation step has not undergone a heat history including heating at a temperature not lower than the temperature (t DEG C) represented by the following equation(1), t ( DEG C) = 150 -0.8 x W W: content (% by weight) of isopropylbenzene hydroperoxide in a solution containing isopropylbenzene hydroperoxide: oxidation step; a step in which isopropylbenzene is oxidized to obtain isopropylbenzene hydroperoxide, epoxidation step; a step in which isopropylbenzene hydroperoxide obtained in the oxidation step is reacted with propylene to obtain propylene oxide and cumyl alcohol, and hydrogenolysis step; a step in which cumyl alcohol obtained in the epoxidation step is subjected to hydrogenolysis to obtain isopropylbenzene, and said isopropylbenzene is recycled to the oxidation step as a raw material for the oxidation step.