Catalytic Hydrogenation of Methanol-Containing Effluent from Epoxidation of Propylene

摘要

This paper describes the hydrogenation of impurities in the methanol-containing effluent from the propylene epoxidation process with hydrogen peroxide. The effects of reaction temperature, pressure, weight hourly space velocity(WHSV) and H2/methanol ratio on the concentration of various impurities in methanol solvent were investigated. It was found out that the aldehyde, hydrogen peroxide and nitro compounds in the methanol solvent could be completely hydrogenated over the Ni catalyst under proper reaction conditions. 90% of acetone and up to 50% of acetals(ketals) existing in the methanol solvent could be hydrogenated. No significant change was observed for the rest of the impurities that were present in the methanol solvent(i. e., 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 2-methoxy-1-propanol and 1,2-propanediol). The H2O2 decomposition reaction was enhanced using Ni catalyst, through the formation of NioOH, but no oxygen was found in the off-gas of hydrogenation reaction since NioH could react on NioOH formed via dissociative adsorption of hydrogen peroxide, or on NioO formed via adsorption of oxygen.