Abstract:
The present invention relates to a process for purifying an impure stream of caprolactam while recovering not only pure caprolactam but also medium-to-high pressure steam. Preferably, the stream of impure or crude caprolactam, which comprises at a minimum a substantial portion of water, is obtained from depolymerization of a polyamide-containing composition. The resulting purified caprolactam will have a purity greater than 90 weight percent and the recovered steam will have a temperature sufficiently high to provide a driving force for use with other equipment, for instance, heat exchange equipment.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an efficient process for the recovery of caprolactam from polycaprolactam-containing waste material. The present process for depolymerizing multi-component waste material comprising polycaprolactam and non-polycaprolactam components to form caprolactam comprises the step of: in the absence of added catalyst, contacting the multi-component waste material with superheated steam at a temperature of about 250° C. to about 400° C. and at a pressure within the range of about 1 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:
Process for the depolymerization of one or more polyamides into its monomeric components in the presence of water by means of at least one alkali metal compound, at least one alkaline-earth metal compound or a combination thereof. The depolymerization takes place at a pressure of between 0.2 and 2.0 MPa, so that high conversions are achieved and the depolymerization reaction proceeds faster, even in the presence of a high content of cyclic oligomers.
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.The formed caprolactam may then be used in the production of engineered resins and fibers.
Abstract:
Caprolactam is recovered from oligomers and/or polymers of caprolactam by cleavage of oligomers and/or polymers of caprolactam and subsequent working up by distillation of the caprolactam obtained in the cleavage, by a process including (a) cleaving oligomers and/or polymers of caprolactam to obtain an aqueous reaction mixture which contains caprolactam, (b) removing water from the reaction mixture obtained under (a) to obtain a residue, (c) distilling the residue obtained under (b) in an acidic medium and (d) then distilling the distillate in an alkaline medium to obtain caprolactam, or (c') distilling the residue obtained under (b) in an alkaline medium and (d') then distilling the distillate in an acidic medium to obtain caprolactam.
Abstract:
A process for recovering monomer from multi-component waste material that includes a hydrolyzable polymer, includes contacting the multi-component waste material with water and subjecting the resulting mixture to heat and pressure to form a liquid aqueous portion and a water insoluble portion. The liquid aqueous portion mainly includes depolymerization products of the hydrolyzable polymer, and the water insoluble portion mainly includes components other than the depolymerization products. This mixture is cooled and the liquid aqueous portion and the water insoluble portion are separated. Monomer that formed the hydrolyzable polymer is recovered from the liquid aqueous solution.
Abstract:
Caprolactam is prepared by cleaving oligomers or polymers containing essentially the repeating unit --[--N(H)-(CH.sub.2).sub.5 --C(O)--]- in the presence of a catalyst at elevated temperatures by a process in which the cleavage is carried out in the liquid phase in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst and of an organic solvent.
Abstract:
A process for recovering monomer from multi-component waste material that includes a hydrolyzable polymer, the process including contacting the multi-component waste material with water and subjecting the resulting mixture to heat and pressure to form a liquid aqueous portion which mainly includes depolymerization products of the hydrolyzable polymer and a water insoluble portion which mainly includes components other than the depolymerization products; separating the liquid aqueous portion and the water insoluble portion; subjecting the separated aqueous portion to a pressure that is lower than that of step (a) and heat to produce a residue and a distillate which contains monomer; and separating the monomer in the distillate from other components in the distillate. The process is particularly useful for recovering caprolactam from waste materials that include nylon 6.