Propylene oxide isomerization process
View Patent ↗The invention is a process to produce allyl alcohol from propylene oxide. The process comprises isomerizing propylene oxide in the presence of a lithium phosphate catalyst which contains boron and from 2000 to 4000 ppm sodium. The propylene oxide conversion is 37 percent or lower.
1. A process to produce allyl alcohol comprising isomerizing propylene oxide, at a propylene oxide conversion of 37 percent or lower, in the presence of a lithium phosphate catalyst which contains boron and from 2000 to 4000 ppm sodium.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the lithium phosphate catalyst contains from 2500 to 3500 ppm sodium.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein the lithium phosphate catalyst contains from 0.03 wt % to 1 wt % of boron.
4. The process of claim 1 wherein the lithium phosphate catalyst contains from 0.1 wt % to 0.8 wt % of boron.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein the isomerization is performed in slurry phase.
6. The process of claim 5 wherein the isomerization is performed in the presence of a C 12 or greater alkylaromatic hydrocarbon.
7. The process of claim 5 wherein the isomerization is performed at a temperature within the range of 200° C. to 300° C.
8. The process of claim 1 wherein the isomerization is performed in gas phase.
9. The process of claim 8 wherein the isomerization is performed at a temperature within the range of 150° C. to 400° C.