Method For Making an Epoxy Starting From a Chlorhydrine

Abstract

Process for preparing an epoxide, comprising at least one step of purifying the epoxide formed, the epoxide being at least partly prepared by a process of dehydrochlorinating a chlorohydrin, the latter being at least partly prepared by a process of chlorinating a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof.

Description

[0001] The present patent application claims the benefit of patent application FR 05.05120 and of patent application EP 05104321.4, both filed on 20 May 2005, and of provisional U.S. patent applications 60/734,659, 60/734,627, 60/734,657, 60/734,658, 60/734,635, 60/734,634, 60/734,637 and 60/734,636, all filed on 8 Nov. 2005, the content of all of which is incorporated here by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a process for preparing an epoxide.

[0003] Epoxides are important raw materials for the production of other compounds.

[0004] Ethylene oxide is used, for example, for the production of ethylene glycol, of di- and polyethylene glycols, of mono-, di- and triethanolamines, etc (see K. Weissermel and H.-J. Arpe in Industrial Organic Chemistry, Third Completely Revised Edition, VCH, 1997, page 149). Propylene oxide is an important intermediate in the preparation of propylene 1,2-glycol, of dipropylene glycol, of ethers of propylene glycol, of isopropylamines, etc (see K. Weissermel and H.-J. Arpe in Industrial Organic Chemistry, Third Completely Revised Edition, VCH, 1997, page 275). Epichlorohydrin is an important raw material for the production of glycerol, of epoxy resins, of synthetic elastomers, of glycidyl ethers, of polyamide resins, etc (see Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Fifth Edition, Vol. A9, p. 539).

[0005] In the industrial production of propylene oxide the most commonly used technology comprises the following steps: hypochlorination of propylene to monochloropropanol and dehydrochlorination of the monochloropropanol to propylene oxide by means of an aqueous alkaline solution.

[0006] In the industrial production of epichlorohydrin the most commonly used technology comprises the following steps: high-temperature free-radical substitutive chlorination of propylene to allyl chloride, hypochlorination of the allyl chloride thus synthesized to dichloropropanol, and dehydrochlorination of the dichloropropanol to epichlorohydrin by means of an aqueous alkaline solution. Another technology, used on a smaller scale, comprises the following steps: catalytical acetoxylation of propylene to allyl acetate, hydrolysis of the allyl acetate to allyl alcohol, catalytic chlorination of the allyl alcohol to dichloropropanol, and alkaline dehydrochlorination of the dichloropropanol to epichlorohydrin. Other technologies, which have not yet gained industrial application, may be considered, including the direct catalytic oxidation of allyl chloride to epichlorohydrin using hydrogen peroxide, or the hydrochlorination of glycerol to dichloropropanol, followed by alkaline dehydrochlorination of the dichloropropanol thus formed to epichlorohydrin.

[0007] Application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA describes a process for preparing dichloropropanol by reacting glycerol with hydrogen chloride in the presence of an organic acid as catalyst. In that process the dichloropropanol is separated from the other reaction products, the hydrogen chloride and the organic acid, and the dichloropropanol is subjected to a dehydrochlorination reaction so as to give reaction products containing epichlorohydrin. The dehydrochlorination may be carried out in the presence of a basic agent and, in particular, an aqueous solution of a basic agent. The epichlorohydrin formed may be used in the preparation of polyglycerols or epoxy resins. The presence of impurities such as, for example, chlorinated ketones, or aldehydes, in the epichlorohydrin obtained may, however, be detrimental for the applications mentioned.

[0008] In accordance with the invention it has been found that the presence of impurities in the epoxide may be, for example, the cause of problems of coloration of the organic products obtained, or the source of unwanted chemical contamination of these products, by halogens, for example.

[0009] The objective of the present invention is to provide a process for preparing an epoxide that does not exhibit these drawbacks.

[0010] The invention accordingly provides a process for preparing an epoxide, comprising at least one step of purifying the epoxide formed, the epoxide being at least partly prepared by a process of dehydrochlorinating a chlorohydrin, the latter being at least partly prepared by a process of chlorinating a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof.

[0011] The term "epoxide" is used herein to describe a compound containing at least one oxygen bridged on a carbon-carbon bond. Generally speaking, the carbon atoms of the carbon-carbon bond are adjacent and the compound may contain atoms other than carbon atoms and oxygen atoms, such as hydrogen atoms and halogens. The preferred epoxides are ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, glycidol, epichlorohydrin and mixtures of at least two thereof.

[0012] The term "olefin" is used herein to describe a compound containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond. Generally speaking, the compound may contain atoms other than the carbon atoms, such as hydrogen atoms and halogens. The preferred olefins are ethylene, propylene, allyl chloride and mixtures of at least two thereof.

[0013] The term "polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon" refers to a hydrocarbon which contains at least two hydroxyl groups attached to two different saturated carbon atoms. The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon may contain, but is not limited to, from 2 to 60 carbon atoms.

[0014] Each of the carbons of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon bearing the hydroxyl functional group (OH) cannot possess more than one OH group and must have sp3 hybridization. The carbon atom carrying the OH group may be primary, secondary or tertiary. The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon used in the present invention must contain at least two sp3-hybridized carbon atoms carrying an OH group. The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon includes any hydrocarbon containing a vicinal diol (1,2-diol) or a vicinal triol (1,2,3-triol), including the higher, vicinal or contiguous orders of these repeating units. The definition of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon also includes, for example, one or more 1,3-, 1,4-, 1,5- and 1,6-diol functional groups. The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon may also be a polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol. Geminal diols, for example, are excluded from this class of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbons.

[0015] The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbons may contain aromatic moieties or heteroatoms, including, for example, heteroatoms of halogen, sulphur, phosphorus, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon and boron type, and mixtures thereof.

[0016] Polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbons which can be used in the present invention comprise, for example, 1,2-ethanediol (ethylene glycol), 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol), 1,3-propanediol, 1-chloro-2,3-propanediol (chloropropanediol), 2-chloro-1,3-propanediol (chloropropanediol), 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, cyclohexanediols, 1,2-butanediol, 1,2-cyclo-hexanedimethanol, 1,2,3-propanetriol (also known as "glycerol" or "glycerin"), and mixtures thereof. With preference the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon used in the present invention includes, for example, 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, chloropropanediol and 1,2,3-propanetriol, and mixtures of at least two thereof. More preferably the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon used in the present invention includes, for example, 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol, chloropropanediol and 1,2,3-propanetriol, and mixtures of at least two thereof. 1,2,3-Propanetriol or glycerol is the most preferred.

[0017] The esters of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon may be present in the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and/or may be produced in the process for preparing the chlorohydrin and/or may be prepared prior to the process for preparing the chlorohydrin. Examples of esters of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon comprise ethylene glycol monoacetate, propanediol monoacetates, glycerol monoacetates, glycerol monostearates, glycerol diacetates and mixtures thereof.

[0018] The term "chlorohydrin" is used here in order to describe a compound containing at least one hydroxyl group and at least one chlorine atom attached to different saturated carbon atoms. A chlorohydrin which contains at least two hydroxyl groups is also a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon. Accordingly the starting material and the product of the reaction may each be chlorohydrins. In that case the "product" chlorohydrin is more chlorinated than the starting chlorohydrin, in other words has more chlorine atoms and fewer hydroxyl groups than the starting chlorohydrin. Preferred chlorohydrins are chloroethanol, chloropropanol, chloropropanediol, dichloropropanol and mixtures of at least two thereof. Dichloropropanol is particularly preferred. Chlorohydrins which are more particularly preferred are 2-chloroethanol, 1-chloropropan-2-ol, 2-chloropropan-1-ol, 1-chloropropane-2,3-diol, 2-chloropropane-1,3-diol, 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol, 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol and mixtures of at least two thereof.

[0019] The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, or the mixture thereof in the process according to the invention may be obtained starting from fossil raw materials or starting from renewable raw materials. It is preferable for at least part to be obtained starting from renewable raw materials. It is preferable for at least part to be obtained starting from fossil raw materials.

[0020] The polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may be subjected to a purification treatment so as to reduce the amount of salts and/or of organic compounds other than the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon before the chlorination process.

[0021] By fossil raw materials are meant materials obtained from the processing of petrochemical natural resources, such as petroleum, natural gas and coal, for example. Among these materials preference is given to organic compounds containing 2 and 3 carbon atoms. When the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is glycerol, allyl chloride, allyl alcohol and "synthetic" glycerol are particularly preferred. By "synthetic" glycerol is meant a glycerol generally obtained from petrochemical resources. When the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is ethylene glycol, ethylene and "synthetic" ethylene glycol are particularly preferred. By "synthetic" ethylene glycol is meant an ethylene glycol generally obtained from petrochemical resources. When the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is propylene glycol, propylene and "synthetic" propylene glycol are particularly preferred. By "synthetic" propylene glycol is meant a propylene glycol generally obtained from petrochemical resources.

[0022] By renewable raw materials are meant materials obtained from the processing of renewable natural resources. Among these materials preference is given to "natural" ethylene glycol, "natural" propylene glycol and "natural" glycerol. "Natural" ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerol are obtained for example by conversion of sugars by thermochemical processes for example, it being possible for these sugars to be obtained starting from biomass, as described in "Industrial Bioproducts: Today and Tomorrow", Energetics, Incorporated for the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of the Biomass Program, July 2003, pages 49, 52 to 56. One of these processes is, for example, the catalytic hydrogenolysis of sorbitol obtained by thermochemical conversion of glucose. Another process is, for example, the catalytic hydrogenolysis of xylitol obtained by hydrogenation of xylose. The xylose may for example be obtained by hydrolysis of the hemicellulose present in maize fibres. By "glycerol obtained from renewable raw materials" is meant, in particular, glycerol obtained during the production of biodiesel or else glycerol obtained during conversions of animal or vegetable oils or fats in general, such as saponification, transesterification or hydrolysis reactions.

[0023] Among the oils which can be used in the process of the invention, mention may be made of all common oils, such as palm oil, palm kernel oil, copra oil, babassu oil, former or new (low erucic acid) colza oil, sunflower oil, maize oil, castor oil and cotton oil, peanut oil, soya bean oil, linseed oil and crambe oil, and all oils obtained, for example, from sunflower plants or colza plants obtained by genetic modification or hybridization.

[0024] It is also possible to employ used frying oils, various animal oils, such as fish oils, tallow, lard and even squaring greases.

[0025] Among the oils used mention may also be made of oils which have been partly modified by means, for example, of polymerization or oligomerization, such as, for example, the "stand oils" of linseed oil and of sunflower oil, and blown vegetable oils.

[0026] A particularly suitable glycerol may be obtained during the conversion of animal fats. Another particularly suitable glycerol may be obtained during the production of biodiesel. A third, very suitable glycerol may be obtained during the conversion of animal or vegetable oils or fats by transesterification in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, as described in documents FR 2752242, FR 2869612 and FR 2869613. More specifically, the heterogeneous catalyst is selected from mixed oxides of aluminium and zinc, mixed oxides of zinc and titanium, mixed oxides of zinc, titanium and aluminium, and mixed oxides of bismuth and aluminium, and the heterogeneous catalyst is employed in the form of a fixed bed. This latter process can be a process for producing biodiesel.

[0027] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may be as described in the patent application entitled "Process for preparing chlorohydrin by converting polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbons", filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, and the content of which is incorporated here by reference.

[0028] Particular mention is made of a process for preparing a chlorohydrin wherein a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof whose total metal content, expressed in elemental form, is greater than or equal to 0.1 .mu.g/kg and less than or equal to 1000 mg/kg is reacted with a chlorinating agent.

[0029] In a first aspect of the process according to the invention, at least a fraction of the chlorohydrin may be prepared by a process of hypochlorinating an olefin. The olefin may be selected from ethylene, propylene, allyl chloride and mixtures thereof.

[0030] In a second aspect of the process according to the invention, at least a fraction of the chlorohydrin may be prepared by a process of chlorinating an unsaturated aliphatic alcohol. The term "unsaturated aliphatic alcohol" refers to a hydrocarbon which contains at least one hydroxyl group and a carbon-carbon double bond. The unsaturated aliphatic alcohol may contain, but is not limited to, from 2 to 60 carbon atoms. Allyl alcohol is an example of unsaturated alcohol.

[0031] In a third aspect of the process according to the invention, at least part of the epoxide may be prepared by a process of epoxidizing an olefin. The epoxidation may be carried out employing any desired peroxide. Among inorganic peroxides preference is given to perborates, percarbonates and hydrogen peroxide, with hydrogen peroxide being particularly preferred. Organic peroxides, organic hydroperoxides, and the adduct of hydrogen peroxide with urea may also be used.

[0032] The different aspects of the process according to the invention may be combined with one another.

[0033] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the employment of the chlorohydrin obtained starting from the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof, by reaction with a chlorinating agent, may be effected, for example, by the process described in application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA, the content of which is incorporated here by reference.

[0034] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may be a crude product or a purified product, as described in application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA, from page 2 line 8 to page 4 line 2.

[0035] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may have an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal content of less than or equal to 5 g/kg, as described in the application entitled "Process for preparing a chlorohydrin by chlorinating a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon", filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, and whose content is incorporated here by reference.

[0036] In the process according to the invention, the alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof is less than or equal to 5 g/kg, often less than or equal to 1 g/kg, more particularly less than or equal to 0.5 g/kg and in certain cases less than or equal to 0.01 g/kg. The alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal content of the glycerol is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 .mu.g/kg.

[0037] In the process according to the invention the alkali metals are generally lithium, sodium, potassium and cesium, often sodium and potassium, and frequently sodium.

[0038] In the process for preparing a chlorohydrin according to the invention, the lithium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof is generally less than or equal to 1 g/kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g/kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg/kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 .mu.g/kg.

[0039] In the process according to the invention, the sodium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof is generally less than or equal to 1 g/kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g/kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg/kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 .mu.g/kg.

[0040] In the process according to the invention, the potassium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof is generally less than or equal to 1 g/kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g/kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg/kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 .mu.g/kg.

[0041] In the process according to the invention, the rubidium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof is generally less than or equal to 1 g/kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g/kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg/kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 .mu.g/kg.

[0042] In the process according to the invention, the cesium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof is generally less than or equal to 1 g/kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g/kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg/kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 .mu.g/kg.

[0043] In the process according to the invention the alkaline earth metal elements are generally magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium, often magnesium and calcium and frequently calcium.

[0044] In the process according to the invention, the magnesium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof is generally less than or equal to 1 g/kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g/kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg/kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 .mu.g/kg.

[0045] In the process according to the invention, the calcium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof is generally less than or equal to 1 g/kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g/kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg/kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 .mu.g/kg.

[0046] In the process according to the invention, the strontium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof is generally less than or equal to 1 g/kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g/kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg/kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 .mu.g/kg.

[0047] In the process according to the invention, the barium content of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof is generally less than or equal to 1 g/kg, often less than or equal to 0.1 g/kg and more particularly less than or equal to 2 mg/kg. This content is generally greater than or equal to 0.1 .mu.g/kg.

[0048] In the process according to the invention, the alkali and/or alkaline earth metals are generally present in the form of salts, frequently in the form of chlorides, sulphates and mixtures thereof. Sodium chloride is the most often encountered.

[0049] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the chlorinating agent of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or of the mixture thereof may be hydrogen chloride and/or hydrochloric acid, as described in application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA, from page 4 line 30 to page 6 line 2.

[0050] Particular mention is made of a chlorinating agent which may be aqueous hydrochloric acid or hydrogen chloride which is preferably anhydrous. The hydrogen chloride may originate from a process of pyrolysing organic chlorine compounds, such as, for example, from the preparation of vinyl chloride, from a process for preparing 4,4-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) or toluene diisocyanate (TDI), from metal pickling processes or from a reaction of an inorganic acid such as sulphuric or phosphoric acid with a metal chloride such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride or calcium chloride.

[0051] In one advantageous embodiment of the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the chlorinating agent is gaseous hydrogen chloride or an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride, or a combination of the two.

[0052] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the chlorinating agent of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or of the mixture thereof may be aqueous hydrochloric acid or hydrogen chloride which is preferably anhydrous, as obtained from a process for preparing allyl chloride and/or chloromethanes and/or a process of chlorinolysis and/or of high-temperature oxidation of chlorine compounds, as described in the application entitled "Process for preparing a chlorohydrin by reacting a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon with a chlorinating agent", filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, and the content of which is incorporated here by reference. The hydrogen chloride may be gaseous hydrogen chloride and/or an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride.

[0053] Particular mention is made of a process for preparing a chlorohydrin from a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, from an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or from a mixture thereof, and from a chlorinating agent, the chlorinating agent comprising at least one of the following compounds: nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine, an organic hydrocarbon compound, an organic halogen compound, an organic oxygen compound and a metal.

[0054] Particular mention is made of an organic hydrocarbon compound which is selected from saturated and unsaturated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof.

[0055] Particular mention is made of an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon which is selected from acetylene, ethylene, propylene, butene, propadiene, methylacetylene and mixtures thereof, of a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon which is selected from methane, ethane, propane, butane and mixtures thereof and of an aromatic hydrocarbon which is benzene.

[0056] Particular mention is made of an organic halogen compound which is an organic chlorine compound selected from chloromethanes, chloroethanes, chloropropanes, chlorobutanes, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, monochloropropenes, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, chlorobutadienes, chlorobenzenes and mixtures thereof.

[0057] Particular mention is made of an organic halogen compound which is an organic fluorine compound selected from fluoromethanes, fluoroethanes, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride and mixtures thereof.

[0058] Particular mention is made of an organic oxygen compound which is selected from alcohols, chloroalcohols, chloroethers and mixtures thereof.

[0059] Particular mention is made of a metal selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, iron, nickel, copper, lead, arsenic, cobalt, titanium, cadmium, antimony, mercury, zinc, selenium, aluminium, bismuth and mixtures thereof.

[0060] Mention is made more particularly of a process wherein the chlorinating agent is obtained at least partly from a process for preparing allyl chloride and/or a process for preparing chloromethanes and/or a process of chlorinolysis and/or a process for oxidizing chlorine compounds at a temperature greater than or equal to 800.degree. C.

[0061] In one advantageous embodiment of the process for preparing the epoxide according to the invention, the chlorinating agent of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or of the mixture thereof does not contain gaseous hydrogen chloride.

[0062] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the chlorination reaction of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may be carried out in a reactor as described in application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA on page 6 lines 3 to 23.

[0063] Mention is made particularly of a plant made from or covered with materials which are resistant, under the reaction conditions, to chlorinating agents, in particular to hydrogen chloride. Mention is made more particularly of a plant made of enamelled steel or of tantalum.

[0064] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the chlorination reaction of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may be carried out in apparatus which is made of or covered with materials that are resistant to chlorinating agents, as described in the application "Process for preparing a chlorohydrin in corrosion-resistant apparatus", filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, and the content of which is incorporated here by reference.

[0065] Particular mention is made of a process for preparing a chlorohydrin that includes a step in which a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof is subjected to reaction with a chlorinating agent containing hydrogen chloride and to at least one other step carried out in an apparatus made of or covered with materials resistant to the chlorinating agent, under the conditions in which that step is realized. Mention is made more particularly of metallic materials such as enamelled steel, gold and tantalum and of non-metallic materials such as high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(vinylidene fluoride), polytetrafluoroethylene, perfluoroalkoxyalkanes and poly(perfluoropropyl vinyl ether), polysulphones and polysulphides, and unimpregnated and impregnated graphite.

[0066] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the chlorination reaction of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may be carried out in a reaction medium as described in the application entitled "Continuous process for preparing chlorohydrins", filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, and the content of which is incorporated here by reference.

[0067] Particular mention is made of a continuous process for producing chlorohydrin in which a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof is reacted with a chlorinating agent and an organic acid in a liquid reaction medium whose steady-state composition comprises polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and esters of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon for which the sum of the amounts, expressed in moles of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, is greater than 1.1 mol % and less than or equal to 30 mol %, the percentage being based on the organic part of the liquid reaction medium.

[0068] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the chlorination reaction of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may be carried out in the presence of a catalyst as described in application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA from page 6 line 28 to page 8 line 5.

[0069] Mention is made particularly of a catalyst based on a carboxylic acid or on a carboxylic acid derivative having an atmospheric boiling point of greater than or equal to 200.degree. C., especially adipic acid and derivatives of adipic acid.

[0070] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the chlorination reaction of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may be carried out at a catalyst concentration, temperature and pressure and for residence times as described in application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA from page 8 line 6 to page 10 line 10.

[0071] Mention is made particularly of a temperature of at least 20.degree. C. and not more than 160.degree. C., of a pressure of at least 0.3 bar and not more than 100 bar and of a residence time of at least 1 h and not more than 50 h.

[0072] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the chlorination reaction of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may be carried out in the presence of a solvent as described in application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA at page 11 lines 12 to 36.

[0073] Mention is made particularly of organic solvents such as a chlorinated organic solvent, an alcohol, a ketone, an ester or an ether, a non-aqueous solvent which is miscible with the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, such as chloroethanol, chloropropanol, chloropropanediol, dichloropropanol, dioxane, phenol, cresol and mixtures of chloropropanediol and dichloropropanol, or heavy products of the reaction such as at least partially chlorinated and/or esterified oligomers of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon.

[0074] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the chlorination reaction of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may be carried out in the presence of a liquid phase comprising heavy compounds other than the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, as described in the application entitled "Process for preparing a chlorohydrin in a liquid phase", filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, and the content of which is incorporated here by reference.

[0075] Particular mention is made of a process for preparing a chlorohydrin wherein a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof is subjected to reaction with a chlorinating agent in the presence of a liquid phase comprising heavy compounds other than the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and having a boiling temperature under a pressure of 1 bar absolute of at least 15.degree. C. more than the boiling temperature of the chlorohydrin under a pressure of 1 bar absolute.

[0076] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the reaction of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may be carried out in batch mode or in continuous mode. The continuous mode is particularly preferred.

[0077] In the process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention, the chlorination reaction of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof is preferably carried out in a liquid reaction medium. The liquid reaction medium may be a single-phase or multi-phase medium.

[0078] The liquid reaction medium is composed of all of the dissolved or dispersed solid compounds, dissolved or dispersed liquid compounds and dissolved or dispersed gaseous compounds at the temperature of the reaction.

[0079] The reaction medium comprises the reactants, the catalyst, the solvent, the impurities present in the reactants, in the solvent and in the catalyst, the reaction intermediates, the products and the by-products of the reaction.

[0080] By reactants are meant the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and the chlorinating agent.

[0081] Among the impurities present in the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon mention may be made of carboxylic acids, salts of carboxylic acids, esters of fatty acid with the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, esters of fatty acids with the alcohols used in the transesterification, and inorganic salts such as alkali metal or alkaline earth metal sulphates and chlorides.

[0082] When the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is glycerol, the impurities in the glycerol that may be mentioned include carboxylic acids, salts of carboxylic acids, fatty acid esters such as mono-, di- and triglycerides, esters of fatty acids with the alcohols used in the transesterification and inorganic salts such as alkali metal or alkaline earth metal sulphates and chlorides.

[0083] Among the reaction intermediates mention may be made of monochlorohydrins of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and their esters and/or polyesters, the esters and/or polyesters of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and the esters of polychlorohydrins.

[0084] When the chlorohydrin is dichloropropanol, the reaction intermediates that may be mentioned include glycerol monochlorohydrin and its esters and/or polyesters, the esters and/or polyesters of glycerol and the esters of dichloropropanol.

[0085] The ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon may therefore be, at each instance, a reactant, an impurity of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a reaction intermediate.

[0086] By products of the reaction are meant the chlorohydrin and water. The water may be the water formed in the chlorination reaction and/or water introduced into the process, for example via the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and/or the chlorinating agent, as described in application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA at page 2 lines 22 to 28 to page 3 lines 20 to 25, at page 5 lines 7 to 31 and at page 12 lines 14 to 19.

[0087] Among the by-products mention may be made for example of the partially chlorinated and/or esterified oligomers of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon.

[0088] When the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is glycerol, the by-products that may be mentioned include, for example, the partially chlorinated and/or esterified oligomers of glycerol.

[0089] The reaction intermediates and the by-products may be formed in the different steps of the process, such as, for example, during the step of preparing the chlorohydrin and during the steps of separating off the chlorohydrin.

[0090] The liquid reaction medium may therefore contain the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the chlorinating agent in solution or dispersion in the form of bubbles, the catalyst, the solvent, the impurities present in the reactants, the solvent and the catalyst, such as dissolved or solid salts, for example, the reaction intermediates, the products and the by-products of the reaction.

[0091] In the preparation process according to the invention, the reaction of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof with the chlorinating agent may take place in the presence of an organic acid. The organic acid may be a product originating from the process for preparing the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a product not originating from this process. In this latter case the product in question may be an organic acid which is used in order to catalyse the reaction of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon with the hydrogen chloride, and/or an acid generated in the process of preparing the chlorohydrin. Consideration is given, for example, to acids generated starting from aldehydes which are present in the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or formed during the preparation of the chlorohydrin. The organic acid may also be a mixture of an organic acid originating from the process for preparing the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, and of an organic acid not originating from the process for preparing the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon.

[0092] In the process according to the invention, the esters of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon may originate from the reaction between the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and the organic acid, before, during or within the steps which follow the reaction with the chlorinating agent.

[0093] In the process according to the invention, the separation of the chlorohydrin and of the other compounds from the reaction medium may be carried out in accordance with the methods as described in application WO 2005/054167 of SOLVAY SA from page 12 line 1 to page 16 line 35 and page 18 lines 6 to 13. These other compounds are those mentioned above and include unconsumed reactants, the impurities present in the reactants, the catalyst, the solvent, the reaction intermediates, the water and the by-products of the reaction.

[0094] Particular mention is made of separation by azeotropic distillation of a water/chlorohydrin/chlorinating agent mixture under conditions which minimize the losses of chlorinating agent, followed by isolation of the chlorohydrin by decantation.

[0095] In the process according to the invention, the isolation of the chlorohydrin and of the other compounds from the reaction medium may be carried out in accordance with methods of the kind described in patent application EP 05104321.4, filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on May 20, 2005 and the content of which is incorporated here by reference. A separation method including at least one separating operation intended to remove the salt from the liquid phase is particularly preferred.

[0096] Particular mention is made of a process for preparing a chlorohydrin by reacting a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a poly-hydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof with a chlorinating agent wherein the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof that is used comprises at least one solid or dissolved metal salt, the process including a separation operation intended to remove part of the metal salt. Mention is made more particularly of a process for preparing a chlorohydrin by reacting a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof with a chlorinating agent wherein the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon that is used comprises at least one chloride and/or a sodium and/or potassium sulphate and in which the separating operation intended to remove part of the metal salt is a filtering operation. Particular mention is also made of a process for preparing a chlorohydrin wherein (a) a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof is subjected to reaction with a chlorinating agent in a reaction mixture, (b) continuously or periodically, a fraction of the reaction mixture containing at least water and the chlorohydrin is removed, (c) at least a part of the fraction obtained in step (b) is introduced into a distillation step and (d) the reflux ratio of the distillation step is controlled by providing water to the said distillation step. Mention is made very particularly of a process for preparing a chlorohydrin wherein (a) a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof is subjected to reaction with hydrogen chloride in a reaction mixture, (b) continuously or periodically, a fraction of the reaction mixture containing at least water and chlorohydrin is removed, (c) at least part of the fraction obtained in step (b) is introduced into a distillation step in which the ratio between the hydrogen chloride concentration and the water concentration in the fraction introduced into the distillation step is smaller than the hydrogen chloride/water concentration ratio in the binary azeotropic hydrogen chloride/water composition at the distillation temperature and pressure.

[0097] In the process for preparing the epoxide according to the invention, the separation of the chlorohydrin and of the other compounds from the reaction medium from chlorination of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon may be carried out in accordance with methods as described in the application entitled "Process for preparing a chlorohydrin" filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application and the content of which is incorporated here by reference.

[0098] Particular mention is made of a process for preparing a chlorohydrin which comprises the following steps: (a) a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof is reacted with a chlorinating agent and an organic acid so as to give a mixture containing the chlorohydrin and esters of the chlorohydrin, (b) at least part of the mixture obtained in (a) is subjected to one or more treatments subsequent to step (a), and (c) the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is added to at least one of the steps subsequent to step (a), in order to react at a temperature greater than or equal to 20.degree. C. with the esters of the chlorohydrin, so as to form, at least partly, esters of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon. Mention is made more particularly of a process in which the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is glycerol and the chlorohydrin is dichloropropanol.

[0099] In the process for preparing the epoxide according to the invention, the separation of the chlorohydrin and the other compounds from the reaction medium from chlorination of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon may be carried out in accordance with methods as described in the application entitled "Process for preparing a chlorohydrin starting from a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon", filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, and the content of which is incorporated here by reference.

[0100] Particular mention is made of a process for preparing chlorohydrin by reacting a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof with a chlorinating agent in a reactor which is supplied with one or more liquid streams containing less than 50% by weight of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or of the mixture thereof relative to the weight of the entirety of the liquid streams introduced into the reactor. More particular mention is made of a process comprising the following steps: (a) a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof is reacted with a chlorinating agent so as to give at least one mixture containing the chlorohydrin, water and the chlorinating agent, (b) at least a fraction of the mixture formed in step (a) is removed, and (c) the fraction removed in step (b) is subjected to an operation of distillation and/or stripping wherein the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is added in order to isolate, from the fraction removed in step (b), a mixture containing water and the chlorohydrin and exhibiting a reduced chlorinating agent content as compared with the fraction removed in step (b).

[0101] In the process for preparing the epoxide according to the invention, the separation of the chlorohydrin and of the other compounds from the reaction medium from chlorination of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon may be carried out in accordance with methods as described in the application entitled "Process for converting polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbons into chlorohydrins", filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, and the content of which is incorporated here by reference.

[0102] Particular mention is made of a process for preparing a chlorohydrin that comprises the following steps: [0103] (a) A polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof is reacted with a chlorinating agent so as to give a mixture containing the chlorohydrin, chlorohydrin esters and water. [0104] (b) At least a fraction of the mixture obtained in step (a) is subjected to a distillation and/or stripping treatment so as to give a portion concentrated in water, in chlorohydrin and in chlorohydrin esters. [0105] (c) At least a fraction of the portion obtained in step (b) is subjected to a separating operation in the presence of at least one additive so as to obtain a moiety concentrated in chlorohydrin and in chlorohydrin esters and containing less than 40% by weight of water.

[0106] The separating operation is more particularly a decantation.

[0107] In the process according to the invention, the isolation and the treatment of the other compounds of the reaction medium may be carried out in accordance with methods as described in the application entitled "Process for preparing a chlorohydrin by chlorinating a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon", filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application. A preferred treatment consists in subjecting a fraction of the by-products of the reaction to a high-temperature oxidation.

[0108] Particular mention is made of a process for preparing a chlorohydrin that comprises the following steps: (a) a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof whose alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal content is less than or equal to 5 g/kg, an chlorinating agent and an organic acid are reacted so as to give a mixture containing at least the chlorohydrin and by-products, (b) at least a portion of the mixture obtained in step (a) is subjected to one or more treatments in steps subsequent to step (a), and (c) at least one of the steps subsequent to step (a) consists in an oxidation at a temperature greater than or equal to 800.degree. C. More particular mention is made of a process wherein, in the subsequent step, a portion of the mixture obtained in step (a) is removed and this portion is subjected to oxidation at a temperature greater than or equal to 800.degree. C. in the course of the removal. Particular mention is also made of a process wherein the treatment of step (b) is a separating operation selected from decantation, filtration, centrifugation, extraction, washing, evaporation, stripping, distillation, and adsorption operations or the combinations of at least two of these operations.

[0109] In the process according to the invention, when the chlorohydrin is chloropropanol, it is generally employed in the form of a mixture of compounds comprising the isomers of 1-chloropropan-2-ol and 2-chloropropan-1-ol. This mixture generally contains more than 1% by weight of the two isomers, preferably more than 5% by weight and particularly more than 50%. The mixture commonly contains less than 99.9% by weight of the two isomers, preferably less than 95% by weight and more particularly less than 90% by weight. The other constituents of the mixture may be compounds originating from the processes for preparing the chloropropanol, such as residual reactants, reaction by-products, solvents and, in particular, water.

[0110] The mass ratio of the isomers, 1-chloropropan-2-ol and 2-chloropropan-1-ol, is commonly greater than or equal to 0.01, preferably greater than or equal to 0.4. This ratio is commonly less than or equal to 99 and preferably less than or equal to 25.

[0111] In the process according to the invention, when the chlorohydrin is chloroethanol, it is generally employed in the form of a mixture of compounds comprising the 2-chloroethanol isomer. This mixture generally contains more than 1% by weight of the isomer, preferably more than 5% by weight and particularly more than 50%. The mixture commonly contains less than 99.9% by weight of the isomer, preferably less than 95% by weight and more particularly less than 90% by weight. The other constituents of the mixture may be compounds originating from the processes for preparing the chloroethanol, such as residual reactants, reaction by-products, solvents and, in particular, water.

[0112] In the process according to the invention, when the chlorohydrin is dichloropropanol, it is generally employed in the form of a mixture of compounds comprising the isomers of 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol and 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol. This mixture generally contains more than 1% by weight of the two isomers, preferably more than 5% by weight and in particular more than 50%. The mixture commonly contains less than 99.9% by weight of the two isomers, preferably less than 95% by weight and more particularly less than 90% by weight. The other constituents of the mixture may be compounds originating from the processes for preparing the dichloropropanol, such as residual reactants, reaction by-products, solvents and, in particular, water.

[0113] The mass ratio between the 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol and 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol isomers is commonly greater than or equal to 0.01, often greater than or equal to 0.4, frequently greater than or equal to 1.5, preferably greater than or equal to 3.0, more preferably greater than or equal to 7.0 and with very particular preference greater than or equal to 20.0. This ratio is commonly less than or equal to 99 and preferably less than or equal to 25.

[0114] In the process according to the invention, when the chlorohydrin is dichloropropanol and is obtained in a process starting from allyl chloride, the mixture of isomers has a 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol: 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol mass ratio which is often from 0.3 to 0.6, typically approximately 0.5. When the dichloropropanol is obtained in a process starting from synthetic and/or natural glycerol, the 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol: 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol mass ratio is commonly greater than or equal to 1.5, preferably greater than or equal to 3.0 and in particular greater than or equal to 7.0. When the dichloropropanol is obtained starting from allyl alcohol, the 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol: 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol mass ratio is often of the order of 0.1.

[0115] In the process according to the invention, the step of purifying the epoxide may be preceded by at least one step of chemically treating the epoxide. This chemical treating may be washing of the epoxide with an aqueous solution of a metal salt.

[0116] In the process according to the invention, the step of purifying the epoxide may comprise at least one distillation step.

[0117] In the process for preparing an organic product according to the invention, the process of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon generally comprises a plurality of steps and preferably (a) at least one step of reacting a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof with the chlorinating agent, optionally in the presence of an organic acid as catalyst, to give a mixture containing the chlorohydrin and water, and (b) at least one step of stripping and/or distilling at least one first fraction of the mixture obtained in step (a) so as to give a first mixture concentrated with chlorohydrin and with water. With particular preference the process of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof comprises (I) at least one step of decantation of the concentrated mixture obtained in step (b) so as to give at least one first aqueous phase concentrated with water and a first organic phase concentrated with chlorohydrin.

[0118] In the process for preparing an organic product according to the invention, the process of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may comprise (c) at least one additional step of stripping and/or distilling a second fraction of the mixture obtained in step (a) so as to give at least one second mixture concentrated with chlorohydrin and with water. With particular preference the process of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof comprises (II) at least one step of decantation of the concentrated mixture obtained in step (c) so as to give at least one second aqueous phase concentrated with water and one second organic phase concentrated with chlorohydrin.

[0119] In the process for preparing an organic product according to the invention, the process of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may comprise (d) at least one additional step of hydrolytically treating a third fraction of the mixture obtained in step (a) so as to regenerate the acidic catalyst.

[0120] In the process for preparing an organic product according to the invention, the process of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof may comprise (e) at least one additional step of oxidative treatment at a temperature greater than or equal to 800.degree. C. of a fourth fraction of the mixture obtained in step (a) so as to give a gaseous mixture containing the chlorinating agent.

[0121] The chlorohydrin obtained in the process according to the invention may include a heightened amount of halogenated ketones, in particular of chloroacetone, as described in patent application FR 05.05120 of May 20, 2005, filed in the name of the applicant, and the content of which is incorporated here by reference. The halogenated ketone content may be reduced by subjecting the chlorohydrin obtained in the process according to the invention to an azeotropic distillation in the presence of water or by subjecting the chlorohydrin to a dehydrochlorination treatment as described in this application from page 4 line 1 to page 6 line 35.

[0122] Particular mention is made of a process for preparing an epoxide wherein halogenated ketones are formed as by-products and which comprises at least one treatment of removal of at least a portion of the halogenated ketones formed. Mention is made more particularly of a process for preparing an epoxide by dehydrochlorinating a chlorohydrin of which at least one fraction is prepared by chlorinating a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof, a treatment of dehydrochlorination and a treatment by azeotropic distillation of a water/halogenated ketone mixture, which are intended to remove at least a portion of the halogenated ketones formed, and a process for preparing epichlorohydrin wherein the halogenated ketone formed is chloroacetone.

[0123] The process for preparing an organic product according to the invention comprises optionally (f) a step of treating the chlorohydrin so as to reduce its halogenated ketone content.

[0124] The chlorohydrin obtained in the process according to the invention may be subjected to a dehydrochlorination reaction in order to produce an epoxide, as described in patent applications WO 2005/054167 and FR 05.05120, both filed in the name of SOLVAY SA.

[0125] The dehydrochlorination of the chlorohydrin may be carried out as described in the application entitled "Process for preparing an epoxide starting from a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon and a chlorinating agent", filed in the name of SOLVAY SA on the same day as the present application, and the content of which is incorporated here by reference.

[0126] Particular mention is made of a process for preparing an epoxide wherein a reaction medium resulting from the reaction between a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof with a chlorinating agent, the reaction medium containing at least 10 g of chlorohydrin per kg of reaction medium, is subjected to a subsequent chemical reaction without intermediate treatment.

[0127] Mention is also made of the preparation of an epoxide that comprises the following steps: [0128] (a) A polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof is reacted with a chlorinating agent and an organic acid so as to form the chlorohydrin and chlorohydrin esters in a reaction medium containing the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, water, the chlorinating agent and the organic acid, the reaction medium containing at least 10 g of chlorohydrin per kg of reaction medium. [0129] (b) At least a fraction of the reaction medium obtained in step (a), this fraction having the same composition as the reaction medium obtained in step (a), is subjected to one or more treatments in steps subsequent to step (a). [0130] (c) A basic compound is added to at least one of the steps subsequent to step (a) in order to react at least partly with the chlorohydrin, the chlorohydrin esters, the chlorinating agent and the organic acid so as to form the epoxide and salts.

[0131] The process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention comprises at least one process for purifying aqueous and/or organic liquid effluents which have come from the constituent processes. These purification processes may be physical, such as, for example, processes of filtration, decantation, adsorption, stripping, distillation, ion exchange, or chemical, such as, for example, processes of oxidation, reduction, precipitation, complexation, of acidic or basic treatment, or may be biological. For the treatment of aqueous liquid effluents preference is given to chemical and biological processes. A chemical treatment by chlorination in a basic medium, preferably at a pH of between 7 and 12, at a temperature of between 100 and 150.degree. C. and for durations of 0.5 to 7 h is particularly preferred.

[0132] The process for preparing an epoxide according to the invention comprises at least one process for purifying gaseous effluents which have come from the constituent processes. These purification processes may be physical, such as, for example, processes of washing, condensation, or adsorption, or chemical, such as, for example, oxidations, reductions, precipitations, complexations, and acidic or basic treatments. Treatment of the gaseous effluents by high-temperature oxidation in a stream of air or oxygen is preferred.

[0133] In the process according to the invention, the olefin is preferably allyl chloride, the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is preferably glycerol and the chlorohydrin is preferably dichloropropanol and the epoxide is preferably epichlorohydrin.

[0134] The process according to the invention may be followed by a process for preparing products derived from ethylene oxide, such as ethylene glycol, di- and polyethylene glycols, of mono-, di- and triethanolamines, products derived from propylene oxide, such as propylene 1,2-glycol, dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol ethers and isopropylamines, and products derived from epichlorohydrin, such as glycerol, epoxy resins, synthetic elastomers, glycidyl ethers and polyamide resins.

Claims

1-30. (canceled)

31. A process for preparing an epoxide, comprising at least one step of purifying the epoxide formed, the epoxide being at least partly prepared by a process of dehydrochlorinating a chlorohydrin, the latter being at least partly prepared by a process of chlorinating a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof.

32. The process according to claim 31, wherein the step of purifying the epoxide formed is preceded by at least one step of chemically treating the epoxide and wherein the chemical treating is washing with an aqueous solution of a metal salt.

33. The process according to claim 31, wherein the step of purifying the epoxide comprises at least one distillation step.

34. The process according to claim 31, wherein at least one fraction of the chlorohydrin is prepared by a process of chlorinating an unsaturated alcohol.

35. The process according to claim 31, wherein at least one fraction of the chlorohydrin is prepared by a process of hypochlorinating an olefin.

36. The process according to claim 31, wherein at least one part of the epoxide is prepared by a process of epoxidizing an olefin.

37. The process according to claim 31, wherein the process of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof comprises (a) at least one step of reacting the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof with the chlorinating agent, optionally in the presence of an organic acid as catalyst, to give a mixture containing the chlorohydrin and water, (b) at least one step of stripping and/or distilling at least a first fraction of the mixture obtained in step (a) so as to give a first mixture concentrated with chlorohydrin and with water.

38. The process according to claim 37, wherein the process of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof comprises (I) at least one step of decantation of the first concentrated mixture obtained in step (b) so as to give at least a first aqueous phase concentrated with water and a first organic phase concentrated with chlorohydrin.

39. The process according to claim 37, wherein the process of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof comprises (c) at least one additional step of stripping and/or distilling a second fraction of the mixture obtained in step (a) so as to give at least a second mixture concentrated with chlorohydrin and with water.

40. The process according to claim 39, wherein the process of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof comprises (II) at least one step of decantation of the second concentrated mixture obtained in step (c) so as to give at least a second aqueous phase concentrated with water and a second organic phase concentrated with chlorohydrin.

41. The process according to claim 37, wherein the process of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof comprises (d) at least one additional step of hydrolytically treating a third fraction of the mixture obtained in step (a) so as to regenerate the acidic catalyst.

42. The process according to claim 37, wherein the process of chlorinating the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof comprises (e) at least one additional step of oxidative treatment at a temperature greater than or equal to 800.degree. C. of a fourth fraction of the mixture obtained in step (a) so as to give a gaseous mixture containing the chlorinating agent.

43. The process according to claim 31, wherein halogenated ketones are formed in the process for preparing the chlorohydrin and comprising optionally (f) a step of treating the chlorohydrin so as to reduce the halogenated ketone content of the chlorohydrin.

44. The process according to claim 31, wherein at least part of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or of the mixture thereof is obtained starting from renewable raw materials.

45. The process according to claim 31, wherein at least part of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or of the mixture thereof is obtained starting from fossil raw materials.

46. The process according to claim 35, wherein the olefin is selected from ethylene, propylene, allyl chloride and mixtures of at least two thereof.

47. The process according to claim 31, wherein the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon is selected from ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, chloropropanediol, glycerol and mixtures of at least two thereof, and wherein the chlorohydrin is selected from chloroethanol, chloropropanol, chloropropanediol, dichloropropanol and mixtures of at least two thereof and wherein the epoxide is selected from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, glycidol, epichlorohydrin and mixtures of at least two thereof.

48. The process according to claim 35, wherein the olefin is allyl chloride, the chlorohydrin is dichloropropanol and the epoxide is epichlorohydrin.

49. The process according to claim 31, wherein the chlorination of the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, of the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or of the mixture thereof is carried out with a chlorinating agent containing hydrogen chloride, wherein at least a portion of the hydrogen chloride has come from a process for preparing allyl chloride, from a process for preparing chloromethanes, from a process of chlorinolysis and/or from a process for oxidizing chlorine compounds at a temperature greater than 800.degree. C., and wherein the hydrogen chloride is a combination of gaseous hydrogen chloride and an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride, or an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride.

50. The process according to claim 31, wherein the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, the ester of polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or the mixture thereof is subjected to a purification treatment so as to reduce the water content, the amount of salts and/or the amount of organic compounds other than the polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, before the chlorination process.

51. The process according to claim 31, comprising at least one process for purifying aqueous and/or organic liquid effluents and/or gaseous effluents and wherein the treatment of purifying the aqueous liquid effluents comprises at least one chemical treatment by chlorination or one biological treatment, and the treatment for purifying the gaseous effluents comprises at least one treatment by oxidation at a temperature greater than or equal to 800.degree. C. in the presence of air.

52. The process according to claim 31, followed by preparation of ethylene glycol, of di- and polyethylene glycols, of mono-, di- and triethanolamines, of propylene 1,2-glycol, of dipropylene glycol, of propylene glycol ethers, of isopropylamines, of glycerol, of polyglycerols, of epoxy resins, of synthetic elastomers, of glycidyl ethers and of polyamide resins.