There is provided a method of producing ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol capable of reducing a concentration in discharged water of 1,4-dioxane contained generated in a step of producing ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol. A method of producing ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol includes a predetermined step of producing ethylene oxide, and a step of extracting a part of a column bottom liquid of an ethylene oxide stripping column in the step of producing ethylene oxide and supplying the extracted column bottom liquid to a by-produced ethylene glycol concentration column, concentrating ethylene glycol produced as a by-product in the step of producing ethylene oxide, and distilling and separating 1,4-dioxane produced as a by-product in the step of producing ethylene oxide, wherein the by-produced ethylene glycol concentration column is a divided wall distillation column.

There is provided a method of producing ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol capable of reducing a concentration in discharged water of 1,4-dioxane contained generated in a step of producing ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol. A method of producing ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol includes a predetermined step of producing ethylene oxide, and a step of extracting a part of a column bottom liquid of an ethylene oxide stripping column in the step of producing ethylene oxide and supplying the extracted column bottom liquid to a by-produced ethylene glycol concentration column, concentrating ethylene glycol produced as a by-product in the step of producing ethylene oxide, and distilling and separating 1,4-dioxane produced as a by-product in the step of producing ethylene oxide, wherein the by-produced ethylene glycol concentration column is a divided wall distillation column.

There is provided a manufacturing assembly for the production of an alkylene oxide and a stream of glycol ethers. The manufacturing assembly produces the alkylene oxide and stream of glycol without the use of equipment for separating substantially all of the alkyl alcohol from the alkylene oxide product stream. Thus, the use of additional pieces of equipment can be avoided, or the equipment required to effectuate any required further separation and/or purification may be smaller and/or cheaper to purchase and/or operate.

There is provided a manufacturing assembly for the production of an alkylene oxide and a stream of glycol ethers. The manufacturing assembly produces the alkylene oxide and stream of glycol without the use of equipment for separating substantially all of the alkyl alcohol from the alkylene oxide product stream. Thus, the use of additional pieces of equipment can be avoided, or the equipment required to effectuate any required further separation and/or purification may be smaller and/or cheaper to purchase and/or operate.

The present invention provides processes for preparing a prostacyclin analogue of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R.sup.10 is a linear or branched C.sub.1-6 alkyl. The processes of the present invention comprise steps that generate improved yields and fewer byproducts than traditional methods. The processes of the present invention employ reagents (e.g., the oxidizing reagent) that are less toxic that those used in the traditional methods (e.g., oxalyl chloride). Many of the processes of the present invention generate intermediates with improved e.e. and chemical purity; thereby eliminating the need of additional chromatography steps. And, the processes of the present invention are scalable to generate commercial quantities of the final compound.

The present invention provides processes for preparing a prostacyclin analogue of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R.sup.10 is a linear or branched C.sub.1-6 alkyl. The processes of the present invention comprise steps that generate improved yields and fewer byproducts than traditional methods. The processes of the present invention employ reagents (e.g., the oxidizing reagent) that are less toxic that those used in the traditional methods (e.g., oxalyl chloride). Many of the processes of the present invention generate intermediates with improved e.e. and chemical purity; thereby eliminating the need of additional chromatography steps. And, the processes of the present invention are scalable to generate commercial quantities of the final compound.

A process for recovering an ethylene oxide (EO) enriched product stream from fat absorbent (FA) comprising water, EO, and acetaldehyde. The process comprises passing a feed of FA from a loopgas EO absorber to a multi-stage countercurrent distillation zone, the feed of FA having a concentration of EO in the range of from about 1 to about 15 wt % upon entering the distillation zone; and obtaining from the distillation zone an acetaldehyde enriched stream, a lean absorbent (LA) stream, a vapour stream enriched in light ends, a glycol enriched bottoms stream and an EO enriched product stream. Suitable apparatus is also disclosed.

A process for recovering an ethylene oxide (EO) enriched product stream from fat absorbent (FA) comprising water, EO, and acetaldehyde. The process comprises passing a feed of FA from a loopgas EO absorber to a multi-stage countercurrent distillation zone, the feed of FA having a concentration of EO in the range of from about 1 to about 15 wt % upon entering the distillation zone; and obtaining from the distillation zone an acetaldehyde enriched stream, a lean absorbent (LA) stream, a vapour stream enriched in light ends, a glycol enriched bottoms stream and an EO enriched product stream. Suitable apparatus is also disclosed.

Methods, apparatus, and processes are provided for a condenser including flowing a vapor stream including formaldehyde into a tube bundle in a vertical upflow reflux condenser, where a tube in the tube bundle has a length to outside diameter ratio of greater than about 170:1, flowing a cooling fluid on a shell-side of the vertical upflow reflux condenser to condense at least a portion of the vapor stream, where the condensed portion of the vapor stream forms a wetted tube internal surface area on each tube in the generally upright tube bundle; and maintaining the vapor stream velocity at a rate that provides a liquid residence time where formaldehyde condensed on the wetted internal surface area of each tube can react with water to form methylene glycol, removing at least sixty percent (60%) of formaldehyde from the vapor stream fed to the condenser.

Methods, apparatus, and processes are provided for a condenser including flowing a vapor stream including formaldehyde into a tube bundle in a vertical upflow reflux condenser, where a tube in the tube bundle has a length to outside diameter ratio of greater than about 170:1, flowing a cooling fluid on a shell-side of the vertical upflow reflux condenser to condense at least a portion of the vapor stream, where the condensed portion of the vapor stream forms a wetted tube internal surface area on each tube in the generally upright tube bundle; and maintaining the vapor stream velocity at a rate that provides a liquid residence time where formaldehyde condensed on the wetted internal surface area of each tube can react with water to form methylene glycol, removing at least sixty percent (60%) of formaldehyde from the vapor stream fed to the condenser.