A method for producing epoxyalkane includes the step of separating, in a separation column, a stream containing epoxyalkane, extractant, and diol. The separation column operates under conditions so as to enable the extractant and the diol to form an azeotrope, and a stream containing extractant and binary azeotrope is extracted from the side-draw of the separation column to liquid-liquid separation. The method can be used for the industrial production of epoxyalkane.

Provided is an epoxy reactive diluent, wherein the content of a compound represented by Formula 1 below is 85% by weight or more based on a total weight of an epoxy reactive diluent composition:

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wherein n is 0, 2, 4 or 6.

Provided is an epoxy reactive diluent, wherein the content of a compound represented by Formula 1 below is 85% by weight or more based on a total weight of an epoxy reactive diluent composition:

##STR00001##

wherein n is 0, 2, 4 or 6.

Ethylene oxide purification by quenching and washing ethylene oxide reactor effluent prior to passing the gaseous ethylene oxide-containing stream to an ethylene oxide absorber to form a dilute aqueous ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide solution and thereafter stripping that solution in an EO stripper to produce a gaseous ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide-containing overhead vapor which is then passed to a reabsorber wherein the ethylene oxide and part of the carbon dioxide vapors are absorbed to form an aqueous reabsorbate solution from which carbon dioxide is removed to produce an ethylene oxide-containing solution is improved by passing an impurities-containing liquid bleed stream obtained from the quench wash to a second, small quench bleed stripper where steam and carbon dioxide are added and gaseous overhead from that quench bleed stripper is passed to the reabsorber for recovery of the EO and removal of formaldehyde and other impurities.

Ethylene oxide purification by quenching and washing ethylene oxide reactor effluent prior to passing the gaseous ethylene oxide-containing stream to an ethylene oxide absorber to form a dilute aqueous ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide solution and thereafter stripping that solution in an EO stripper to produce a gaseous ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide-containing overhead vapor which is then passed to a reabsorber wherein the ethylene oxide and part of the carbon dioxide vapors are absorbed to form an aqueous reabsorbate solution from which carbon dioxide is removed to produce an ethylene oxide-containing solution is improved by passing an impurities-containing liquid bleed stream obtained from the quench wash to a second, small quench bleed stripper where steam and carbon dioxide are added and gaseous overhead from that quench bleed stripper is passed to the reabsorber for recovery of the EO and removal of formaldehyde and other impurities.

Methods of drying streams that include propylene oxide. The methods may include contacting a stream that includes propylene oxide with molecular sieves. The molecular sieves may be in a drying unit, and may be regenerated. The streams that include propylene oxide may include one or more other organic compounds.

Methods of drying streams that include propylene oxide. The methods may include contacting a stream that includes propylene oxide with molecular sieves. The molecular sieves may be in a drying unit, and may be regenerated. The streams that include propylene oxide may include one or more other organic compounds.

The invention provides a reaction system for the production of ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol. The reaction system having a guard bed system upstream of a catalytic EO reactor. The guard bed system having a feed line supplying a gaseous feed and an effluent line configured to remove the treated gaseous feed. The guard bed system has two or more guard bed vessels arranged in series in sequential order, each having an inlet, a bed of guard bed material and an outlet. The inlet of each guard bed vessel is attached by means of valves to both the feed line and the outlet of the guard bed vessel preceding it in sequential order. The outlet of each guard bed vessel is attached by means of valves to both the effluent line and to the inlet of the guard bed vessel following it in sequential order.

The invention provides a reaction system for the production of ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol. The reaction system having a guard bed system upstream of a catalytic EO reactor. The guard bed system having a feed line supplying a gaseous feed and an effluent line configured to remove the treated gaseous feed. The guard bed system has two or more guard bed vessels arranged in series in sequential order, each having an inlet, a bed of guard bed material and an outlet. The inlet of each guard bed vessel is attached by means of valves to both the feed line and the outlet of the guard bed vessel preceding it in sequential order. The outlet of each guard bed vessel is attached by means of valves to both the effluent line and to the inlet of the guard bed vessel following it in sequential order.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a glycidyl ester compound which comprises performing a reaction under reduced pressure without using a reaction solvent.