Abstract:
The present invention provides an improved process for the recovery of caprolactam from polycaprolactam processing waste. The present process for depolymerizing polycaprolactam waste to form caprolactam comprises the step of: in the absence of added catalyst, contacting the polycaprolactam waste with superheated steam at a temperature of about 250.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C. and at a pressure within the range of about 1.5 atm to about 100 atm and substantially less than the saturated vapor pressure of water at the temperature wherein a caprolactam-containing vapor stream is formed.
Abstract:
A method of removing 1,11-diamino-6-undecanone from the pyrolysis product of nylon comprising: a) pyrolyzing nylon-6 to form a pyrolyzate containing a caprolactam mixture;b) dissolving the caprolactam mixture in a solvent to form a solution;c) passing carbon dioxide gas through the solution to form a precipitate;d) removing the precipitate from the solution; ande) recovering the purified caprolactam from the solution.
Abstract:
A process for preparing caprolactam by cyclization of 6-aminocapronitrile in the presence of water at elevated temperature and in the presence or absence of a catalyst and a solvent, comprises a) removing from the cyclization reaction effluent ("reaction effluent I") caprolactam and all components boiling higher than caprolactam ("high boilers"), b) treating the high boilers of stage a) with phosphoric acid and/or polyphosphoric acid at from 200 to 350.degree. C. to obtain a reaction effluent II, and c) removing caprolactam formed and any 6-aminocapronitrile from reaction effluent II of stage b) to obtain separation from unconverted high boilers and acid used.
Abstract:
The present invention is for a method of preparing purified .epsilon.-caprolactam from carpet waste containing nylon-6. Contaminated .epsilon.-caprolactam is obtained by depolymerizing nylon-6 from carpet waste. A mixture of the contaminated .epsilon.-caprolactam and water is then hydrogenated in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst in order to produce purified .epsilon.-caprolactam. The amount of contaminated .epsilon.-caprolactam in the mixture can be between 10 and 95% by weight.
Abstract:
A process for producing a high purity caprolactam is disclosed in which a crude caprolactam obtained by a catalytic rearrangement of cyclohexanone oxime is subjected(1) to mixing, while stirring, with at least one hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons and alicyclic hydrocarbons to form a liquid-liquid, two-layer liquid mixture, and then crystallizing caprolactam out of the liquid mixture;(2) to mixing with both at least one hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons and alicyclic hydrocarbons, and water to form a liquid mixture, separating the liquid mixture into a hydrocarbon layer and a water layer, and then recovering caprolactam from the water layer; or(3) to distillation in the co-presence of at least one aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon of 10 to 18 carbon atoms.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a method for purifying a lactam-containing organic solution which comprises processing an organic solution containing at least one lactam with an anion exchange resin to remove an anionic surface active substance contained in said organic solution, and then extracting with water to separate an objective component contained in the organic solution to an aqueous solution.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an ion exchange purification method of an aqueous caprolactam solution in a process for producing caprolactam and laurolactam by subjecting a mixture of cyclohexanone oxime and cyclododecanone oxime to Beckmann rearrangement in the presence of sulfuric acid and fuming sulfuric acid, which comprises, after neutralization of the rearrangement reaction products, and first extraction thereof with an organic solvent and second extraction of the first extract with water to obtain a second extract of an aqueous caprolactam solution, treating the aqueous caprolactam solution obtained by extraction with an organic solvent immiscible with water with a strongly acidic cation exchange resin, and subsequently with a weakly basic anion exchange resin or further with a strongly basic anion exchange resin.
Abstract:
A process for recovering caprolactam from waste containing both polycaprolactam and materials which are insoluble in acidic solvents for polycaprolactam includes agitating the waste in an acidic solvent capable of dissolving polycaprolactam without degrading the acid insoluble materials, separating the solution containing polycaprolactam from the acid insoluble materials, feeding the solution containing the polycaprolactam to a depolymerization reactor, without substantially precipitating the polycaprolactam and depolymerizing the polycaprolactam solution to obtain substantially pure caprolactam.
Abstract:
Caprolactam is purified continuously by passing a 75-95% strength by weight aqueous caprolactam solution together with hydrogen at 50.degree.-95.degree. C. and 1.5-100 bar upward through a fixed-bed supported palladium or nickel catalyst in a tubular zone while maintaining a residence time of from 10 to 100 min.
Abstract:
Distillation residues from the purification of caprolactam are worked up by heating in the presence of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide and in the presence of a high-boiling hydrocarbon at from 250.degree. to 500.degree. C. and continuously removing the caprolactam.