Patent ID: 8257558

Claim:
An ethylene oxide purification column, comprising: a first section located in the column to convert a feed stream including ethylene oxide, water, acetaldehyde, and other impurities into a gas phase portion of the feed stream including ethylene oxide, acetaldehyde; water, and other impurities and a liquid phase portion of the feed stream including ethylene oxide and water; and a second section located in the column above the first section to separate ethylene oxide from the acetaldehyde, water, and other impurities that enter the second section from the first section, where the second section includes: a tray located at a bottom portion of the second section to collect ethylene oxide, acetaldehyde, and other impurities in a liquid phase and a first side take-off located at the tray for removal of the ethylene oxide, acetaldehyde, and other impurities in the liquid phase; and a second side take-off located at a top portion of the second section for removal of a purified ethylene oxide exit stream.