OXIRANES APPLICATIONS, BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS, OCCURRENCE

5 OXIRANES APPLICATIONS, BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS, OCCURRENCE 5.05.5.1 Applications 

The manufacture and uses of oxiranes are reviewed in (B-80MI50500, B-80MI50501). The industrially most important oxiranes are oxirane itself (ethylene oxide), which is made by catalyzed air-oxidation of ethylene (cf. Section 5.05.4.2.2(f)), and methyloxirane (propylene oxide), which is made by /3-elimination of hydrogen chloride from propene-derived 1-chloro-2-propanol (cf. Section 5.05.4.2.1) and by epoxidation of propene with 1-phenylethyl hydroperoxide cf. Section 5.05.4.2.2(f)) (79MI50501). 

Oxirane is used as a fumigant for grain and a sterilant e.g. for space vehicles bound for putative abodes of life), but mainly for the manufacture of 1,2-ethanediol ( ethylene glycol ), emulsifiers, plastics and resins (below), plasticizers, synthetic rubber and synthetic fibers. Methyloxirane is used mainly to make detergents, hydraulic fiuids and lubricants. 

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