Abstract:
In a process for oxidizing a feed comprising cyclohexylbenzene, the feed is contacted with oxygen and an oxidation catalyst in a plurality of reaction zones connected in series, the contacting being conducted under conditions being effective to oxidize part of the cyclohexylbenzene in the feed to cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide in each reaction zone. At least one of the plurality of reaction zones has a reaction condition that is different from another of the plurality of reaction zones. The different reaction conditions may include one or more of (a) a progressively decreasing temperature and (b) a progressively increasing oxidation catalyst concentration as the feed flows from one reaction zone to subsequent reaction zones in the series.
Abstract:
In a process for oxidizing a hydrocarbon to a corresponding hydroperoxide, alcohol, ketone, carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid, the hydrocarbon is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cyclic imide of the general formula (I): wherein each of R1 and R2 is independently selected from hydrocarbyl and substituted hydrocarbyl radicals having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or from the groups SO3H, NH2, OH and NO2, or from the atoms H, F, Cl, Br and I provided that R1 and R2 can be linked to one another via a covalent bond; each of Q1 and Q2 is independently selected from C, CH, N and CR3; each of X and Z is independently selected from C, S, CH2, N, P and an element of Group 4 of the Periodic Table; Y is O or OH; k is 0, 1, or 2; 1 is 0, 1, or 2; m is 1 to 3, and R3 can be any of the entities listed for R1. The contacting produces an effluent comprising an oxidized hydrocarbon product and unreacted imide catalyst of formula (I) and the effluent is treated with an aqueous solution of a base to produce an aqueous phase comprising at least part of the unreacted imide catalyst of formula (I) and an organic phase comprising oxidized hydrocarbon product. The organic phase can then be recovered.
Abstract:
Isobutene, isoprene, and butadiene are obtained from mixtures of C4 and/or C5 olefins by dehydrogenation. The C4 and/or C5 olefins can be obtained by dehydration of C4 and C5 alcohols, for example, renewable C4 and C5 alcohols prepared from biomass by thermochemical or fermentation processes. Isoprene or butadiene can be polymerized to form polymers such as polyisoprene, polybutadiene, synthetic rubbers such as butyl rubber, etc. in addition, butadiene can be converted to monomers such as methyl methacrylate, adipic acid, adiponitrile, 1,4-butadiene, etc. which can then be polymerized to form nylons, polyesters, polymethylmethacrylate etc.
Abstract:
Catalytic processes for preparing caprolactam, pipecolinic acid, and their derivatives, from lysine or alpha-amino-epsilon-caprolactam starting materials, and products produced thereby. A process for preparing caprolactam or a derivative thereof, the process comprising contacting a reactant comprising lysine or alpha aminocaprolactam with a catalyst and a gas comprising hydrogen gas, in the presence of a solvent. The catalyst may be provided on a support material, such as a transition metal.
Abstract:
A process for preparing N-alkenyl compounds by reacting the corresponding NH compounds with alkynes in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of at least one stabilizer, and the use of stabilizers for increasing the selectivity in a process for preparing N-alkenyl compounds by reacting the corresponding NH compounds with alkynes in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst.
Abstract:
The invention relates to the field of production of lactams from aminonitriles, and in particular to the production of ε-caprolactam by the vapor phase hydrolytic cyclization of 6-aminocapronitrile. A crude liquid caprolactam comprising ε-caprolactarn (CL), 6-aminocapronitrile (ACN) and water obtained from a vapor phase cyclization reaction of ACN is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to convert the ACN in the crude liquid caprolactam to a product comprising hexamethylenediamine (HMD) and hexamethyleneimine (HMI). Tetrahydroazepine (THA) in the crude liquid caprolactam is converted to HMI during this hydrogenation. The HMD and HMI have lower boiling points compared to ACN and thus they are more easily separated from CL in the subsequent distillation operations. Thus a process to make CL from ACN with fewer distillation stages, and with lower pressure drop and lower base temperature, is accomplished.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for recovering monomeric units of a nylon from carpet material, said carpet material comprising fibres containing said nylon bound to a backing containing one or more non-nylon components, the carpet material containing between 15 and 35 wt. % of said nylon, which process comprises the steps of: a) mechanically separating the carpet material into an enriched carpet mixture containing between 35 and 55 wt. % of said nylon and into a depleted carpet mixture having a lower content of said nylon than the carpet material b) exposing the enriched carpet mixture to conditions at which depolymerisation of said nylon is effected.
Abstract:
A process for preparing a polymer, which comprises a) reacting a mixture (I) containing 6-aminocapronitrile and water in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a mixture (II) containing caprolactam, ammonia, water, high boilers and low boilers, then b) removing ammonia from mixture (II) to obtain a mixture (III) containing caprolactam, water, high boilers and low boilers, then c) removing all or some of the water from mixture (III) to obtain a mixture (IV) containing caprolactam, high boilers and low boilers and then d) feeding mixture (IV) to a polymerization reaction,and also the polymer obtainable by this process, the use of the polymer for producing fibers, sheetlike structures and moldings, and also fibers, sheetlike structures and moldings obtainable using such a polymer.
Abstract:
A process for the preparation of caprolactam is provided, wherein a) a mixture (I) containing 6-aminocapronitrile and water is reacted in the liquid phase, in the presence of a catalyst, to give a mixture (II) containing caprolactam, ammonia, water, high-boiling components and low-boiling components, b) ammonia is then removed from the mixture (II) to give a mixture (III) containing caprolactam, water, high-boiling components and low-boiling components, c) water is then removed from the mixture (III) to give a mixture (IV) containing caprolactam, high-boiling components and low-boiling components, and d) a solid (V) containing caprolactam is then obtained from the mixture (IV) by crystallization, the proportion by weight of caprolactam in the solid (V) being greater than in the mixture (IV).
Abstract:
Process for the preparation of a mixture of .epsilon.-caprolactam, 6-aminocaproic acid and 6-aminocaproic amide by heating an aqueous mixture containing ammonia and oligomers of 6-aminocaproic acid and/or of 6-aminocaproic amide, the aqueous mixture containing 0.5-7 wt. % of equivalent ammonia (calculated as NH.sub.3) and the temperature lying between 280.degree. C. and 330.degree. C., in which by "equivalent ammonia" is meant free ammonia and ammonia present in the form of a terminal amide group of one of the compounds present in the aqueous mixture.