Abstract:
Propylene oxide is produced by a two-step process in which isobutane is
oxidised using oxygen to tert-butyl hydroperoxide (THP' and the latter is
used to oxidise propylene to propylene oxide.
Isobutane and oxygen are reacted at 900C and 29 bar in the presence of a
molybdenum naphthenate catalyst to form TBHP and tert- butyl alcohol (TBA).
After separation, the TBHP is used to oxidise propylene to propylene oxide,
peroxide selectivity to propylene oxide is 85 percent at a reaction time of
2-5 hours. Approximately 2.4 tonne of TBA are formed per tonne of propylene
oxide produced.
