Acetone from Propylene

Abstract

In the direct hydration process, propylene and water are preheated and fed to a catalytic reactor, where isopropanol is formed. This reaction may be carried out in the vapour or liquid phase at pressures of 25-250 bar and at temperatures of l50-300oC. Aqueous isopropanol is separated from water and small amounts of other light and heavy ends in a series of 3 to 6 distillation columns.