Patent ID: 7449590

Claim:
A process for producing propylene oxide, which comprises the following steps below, and a step for removing alcohols of the carbon number of 2 to 3, cyclohexanol and/or isopropylcyclohexane as by-products outside of the reaction system in at least one place of the steps or between which the steps are connected: oxidation step: a step of obtaining cumene hydroperoxide by oxidizing cumene; epoxidation step: a step of obtaining propylene oxide and cumyl alcohol by reacting cumene hydroperoxide obtained in the oxidation step with propylene in an excess amount in a liquid in the presence of a titanium-containing silicon oxide catalyst; and hydrogenolysis step: a step of obtain cumene by subjecting cumyl alcohol obtained in the epoxidation step to hydrogenolysis, and recycling the cumene to the oxidation step as a raw material for the oxidation step.