Published April 1977
This report deals with the processes for making ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. Under ethylene oxide, the silver-catalyzed direct oxidation processes using oxygen and air are evaluated. Under propylene oxide, the following processes are evaluated: the chlorohydrin process, conventional version; the chlorohydrin process with recycle; the hydroperoxide process using isobutane as feed and with coproduction of tertiary butyl alcohol or isobutylene, or recycle of isobutane; the hydroperoxide process starting from ethylbenzene and using a homogeneous catalyst or a heterogeneous catalyst; the Daicel peracetic acid process; the liquid phase acetaldehyde cooxidation process; the catalytic liquid phase oxidation process based on a USSR patent; and a propylene glycol monoacetate pyrolysis process. Some of the above processes were evaluated in previous PEP reports (Reports 2, 2A, and 2B); but they are now evaluated independently of the previous work, and the results for these processes supercede those in the previous reports. The noncatalytic liquid phase direct oxidation process evaluated in the previous report is updated. The electrochemical process is evaluated by analogy. The Lummus chlorohydrin process, the Interox peracid process, and three other hydroperoxide processes are evaluated in a screening manner. Many other processes, including several peracid processes, are briefly discussed.
