Germany
BuGuCh & Partners
Epoxypropane, also known as propylene oxide, methyl ethylene oxide and 1,2-epoxypropane, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C3H6O. It is a very important raw material for organic compounds and the third largest propylene derivative after polypropylene and acrylonitrile. Propylene oxide is a colorless ether flavored liquid with low boiling point, flammability and chirality. Industrial products are generally racemic mixtures of two enantiomers. It is partially miscible with water, ethanol and ether. It forms a binary azeotropic mixture with pentane, pentene, cyclopentane, cyclopentene and dichloromethane. Toxic, irritating to mucous membrane and skin, can damage cornea and conjunctiva, cause respiratory system pain, skin burn and swelling, and even tissue necrosis.
It is mainly used to produce polyether polyols, propylene glycol and various non-ionic surfactants, among which polyether polyols are important raw materials for the production of polyurethane foam, insulation materials, elastomers, adhesives and coatings, and various non-ionic surfactants are widely used in petroleum, chemical, pesticide, textile, daily chemical and other industries. At the same time, propylene oxide is also an important basic chemical raw material.
