Published February 1971
In this report, two processes for manufacturing ethylene oxide, and eight processes for manufacturing propylene oxide are evaluated. The two processes for ethylene oxide are both catalytic oxidation processes, one using air and the other using oxygen. The former is a modification of the one evaluated in Process Economics Program Report No. 2.
Among the eight processes for propylene oxide evaluated here, five of them (chlorohydrin, electrochemical, isobutane, ethylbenzene, cumene) are revisions of processes evaluated in PEP Reports No. 2, No. 2A, and No. 2Bl; one (liquid phase oxidation) is replacing a similar liquid phase process evaluated in Report No. 2; one (iodohydrin) is completely new; and another (peracetic acid) is also a new process, although it is somewhat related to one evaluated in Report No. 2. This report supersedes all the evaluations of the above-mentioned processes in the Reports No. 2, No. 2A, No. 2B1, as well as the Section 8 of Report No. 33. A short section on propylene oxide by vapor phase oxidation reviews relevant patents issued since the earlier PEP reports were written. The design and cost basis and certain physical data are appended.
