Patent ID: 8183400

Claim:
A system to recover alkylene oxide, comprising: a stripping section located in an alkylene oxide recovery column to convert a feed stream that includes alkylene oxide and water to a first gas phase portion that includes alkylene oxide; a condensing zone that includes at least a first condenser and a second condenser configured in series such that: the first condenser partially condenses the first gas phase portion to produce a liquid reflux stream and a second gas phase portion that includes alkylene oxide, water, and light gases; the second condenser partially condenses the second gas phase portion to produce an alkylene oxide rich vapor stream and a first aqueous solution that includes alkylene oxide, water, and light gases; and a reabsorption region located in the alkylene oxide recovery column above the last of the at least two condensers, wherein an aqueous stream reabsorbs alkylene oxide from the alkylene oxide rich vapor stream to produce a second aqueous solution that includes alkylene oxide, water, and light gases.