Purification of propylene oxide
View Patent ↗A process for purifying propylene oxide containing an unacceptable quantity of a poly (propylene oxide) polymer contaminant having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000 and precursors having a number average molecular weight below 50,000. The process comprises contacting the propylene oxide with a sorbent selected from activated carbon, charcoal, and attapulgite for a time and under conditions sufficient to reduce the amount of the contaminant to acceptable levels, and thereafter recovering the purified propylene oxide product, wherein the propylene oxide is contacted with the sorbent at a temperature below 10° C.
1. A process for purifying propylene oxide from a propylene oxide composition containing poly (propylene oxide) polymer contaminents having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000 and precursors having a number average molecular weight below 50,000 comprising the steps of:
(a) contacting the propylene oxide composition with a sorbent selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, charcoal, and attapulgite at a temperature below 10° C. for a time and under conditions sufficient to reduce the amount of the contaminant to acceptable levels, and
(b) recovering purified propylene oxide product.
2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the propylene oxide is contacted with the sorbent at a temperature between 8° C. and −40° C.
3. The process according to claim 1 wherein the propylene oxide is contacted with the sorbent at a temperature between 5° C. and −20° C.