| abstract |
The present invention provides a continuous process for the epoxidation of an olefinic compound with an oxidant, which process comprises reaction of an olefinic compound with an oxidant in the presence of a catalyst in an apparatus that comprisesn a reactive distillation column, which column comprises (i) a reactive section, which comprises the catalyst (ii) a rectifying section situated above the reactive section and adapted to allow separation of reagents and/or by-products from products (ix) a stripping section situated below the reactive section and adapted to allow separation of product from reagents and/or by-products (x) a vessel situated below the stripping section and adapted to provide a source of heat for the column and in which initial vaporisation of one or more of the reagents can occur, wherein the temperature in the reactive section (i) is a temperature at which the reaction between the olefinic compound and the oxidant takes place and the temperature in the stripping section (iii) is higher than the temperature in the rectifying section (ii). |