A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF PROPYLENE OXIDE

A continuous process for the preparation of propylene oxide, comprising a start-up stage and normal run stage, wherein the normal run stage comprises (i) continuously providing a liquid feed stream comprising propene, hydrogen peroxide, acetonitrile, a formate salt, water and optionally propane, wherein in the liquid feed stream, the molar amount of the formate salt relative to the molar amount of hydrogen peroxide at a given point of time during the normal run stage is aN(Fo/H2O2); (ii) continuously passing the liquid feed stream provided in (i) into an epoxidation zone comprising a catalyst comprising a titanium zeolite having framework type MWW, and subjecting the liquid feed stream to epoxidation reaction conditions in the epoxidation zone, obtaining a reaction mixture comprising propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, the formate salt, optionally propene, and optionally propane; (iii) continuously removing an effluent stream from the epoxidation zone, the effluent stream comprising propylene oxide, acetonitrile, water, at least a portion of the formate salt, optionally propene, and optionally propane; wherein the normal run stage is characterized in an average rate of change of aN(Fo/H2O2) of less than 0 h−1.