| abstract |
Process for purifying propylene oxide, comprising (i) providing a S0 stream comprising propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water and an organic compound comprising a carbonyl group -C (= O) -, wherein said organic compound comprising a carbonyl group -C (= O) - comprises one or more of acetone and propionaldehyde; (ii) separating propylene oxide from stream S0 by distillation, which comprises subjecting stream S0 to distillation conditions in a distillation column, obtaining an upper gaseous stream S1c that is enriched in propylene oxide compared to stream S0, a liquid bottom stream S1a that is enriched in acetonitrile and water compared to stream S0 and a side stream S1b comprising propylene oxide that is enriched in carbonyl compound compared to stream S0; wherein the distillation column is operated at an absolute pressure at the top of the distillation column in the range of from 0.01 to 0.2 MPa (0.1 to 2 bar) and a reflux ratio internal in the range of from 2.0 to 6.0; in which the distillation column presents at least 100 theoretical plates, the rectification section of the distillation column consists of from 30 to 70% of the theoretical plates and the separation section of the distillation column consists of from 70 up to 30% of the theoretical plates. |