| abstract |
An olefin 1,2-carbonate is reacted, in one or more process microchannels of a microchannel reactor, with water or an alcohol to form the corresponding 1,2-diol, optionally in the presence of an catalyst. The olefin 1,2-carbonate is optionally obtained by: ```firstly reacting a feed comprising an olefin and oxygen in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst contained in one or more process microchannels in a first section of the microchannel reactor; and ```secondly converting the resulting olefin oxide with carbon dioxide, optionally in the presence of an catalyst. The reaction mixture may optionally be quenched by reducing the temperature (preferably to no more than 200{C) using a heat exchange fluid downstream of the epoxidation catalyst. A microchannel reactor suitable for such a process comprises: ```one or more process microchannels (210), each comprising: ```an upstream end (220); ```a downstream end (230); ```a first section (240) which is adapted: ```to contain an epoxidation catalyst, ```to receive a feed comprising an olefin and oxygen, ```and to allow conversion of at least a portion of the feed into an olefin oxide; ```a second section (340) ```positioned downstream of the first section and adapted ```to receive the olefin oxide and carbon dioxide, and ```to allow conversion of the olefin oxide; and ```a third section ```positioned downstream of the second section and adapted ```to receive the olefin 1,2-carbonate, and water or an alcohol, and ```to allow conversion of the olefin 1,2-carbonate to the 1,2-diol. The reactor may also comprise one or more heat exchange channels (250, 350) to exchange heat with the first, second and third sections, and one or more heat exchange channels (e.g. 450) to exchange heat with intermediate sections (e.g. 440, for reaction quenching) between the first and second sections, and between the second and third sections. |