GB533054A - - Google Patents

Abstract

533,054. Olefine oxides. U.S. INDUSTRIAL ALCOHOL CO. Oct. 3, 1939, No. 27113. Convention date, Nov. 5, 1938. [Class 2 (iii)] [Also in Group III] Olefine oxides are recovered from gaseous mixtures by absorption in an aqueous solvent which is then subjected to steam at a sub atmosphere pressure so low that the temperature of the solution is not substantially altered. Suitable pressures are from a fraction of a pound to about 5 pounds absolute, but higher pressures, preferably, not above 7 pounds may be used. On cooling a much stronger solution of olefine oxide is obtained, which may be converted to a glycol by heating to 100-200‹C. under pressure. In the apparatus shown the gas containing the olefine oxide is washed in a tower 5, and the solution then meets steam from a pipe 31 in a second tower 12, the steam and olefine oxide being drawn off under low pressure by a pump 18 and passed at atmospheric pressure through a cooler 20 to a tower 22 where the concentrated oxide is absorbed in water. The solution is forced by a pump 26 into a hydrating chamber 28 under pressure for the production of a glycol. In an example a gas mixture containing ethylene oxide is passed at 30‹C. through the towers 5 and 12 at a pressure of 25-30 mm. in the tower 5 and 30 mm. in the tower 12. The steam supplied by the pipe 31 is at 100‹C. and atmospheric pressure. The ethylene oxide steam mixture contains about 80 per cent. of ethylene oxide ; it may be absorbed to form a solution which on heating at 150‹C. gives 8 to 10 per cent. glycol.