Propylene Oxide-Co-Product TBA

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.