Abstract
Oxidation of propylene with small amount of oxygen was carried out at temperatures ranging from 330 to 370°C and pressures below 5kg/cm2 gauge, using a stainless steel U-tube reactor. At temperatures above 330°C the oxidation reaction took place easily under pressure and the reaction products were found to be mainly composed of acetaldehyde, propylene oxide, acrolein, and allyl alcohol, along with gaseous products such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and ethylene. The relative proportion of products of acetaldehyde, propylene oxide, and acrolein changed only slightly with changes in reaction conditions, although there existed an optimum pressure at which the maximum yield of products was obtained. The optimum pressure varies a little with temperatures and space velocities. At temperatures ranging from 330 to 370°C and at space velocities ranging from 350 to 3, 500 1/hr and pressures below 5kg/cm2, the maximum yields of propylene oxide and acetaldehyde were obtained. For example, when a mixture of 65% of propylene, 21% of propane and 14% of oxygen was oxidized at conditions of 350°C, S.V. 1, 400 and pressure of 3kg/cm2, the product yield was as follows: -12.8% conversion of propylene; acetaldehyde 34%, propylene oxide 24%, acrolein 12%, allyl alcohol 5%.
