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 °C to about 400 °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 obtained from mixtures which contain polymers or thermoplastic molding materials having the repeating unit -[-N(H)-(CH2)5-C(O)-]-, (a) by depolymerization at elevated temperatures in the presence of a base under reduced pressure or (b) in the presence of water, by using a mixture essentially comprising, from 50 to 99.9 % by weight of a polymer or of a thermoplastic molding material having the repeating unit -[-N(H)-(CH2)5-C(O)-]-; from 0.1 to 50 % by weight of additives selected from the group consisting of inorganic fillers, organic and inorganic pigments and dyes; from 0 to 10 % by weight of organic and/or inorganic aditives; from 0 to 40 % by weight of non-polyamide-containing polymers and from 0 to 20 % by weight of polyamides, with the exception of polycaprolactam and copolyamides prepared from caprolactam, and carrying out the depolymerization in the presence of a base under reduced pressure, the water content of the mixture used being not more than 0.01 % by weight, or carrying out the depolymerization in the presence of water without the addition of acid or base at from 270 to 350 °C and a weight ratio of water to polymer or thermoplastic molding material of from 1:1 to 20:1 and in a reaction time of less than 3 hours.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a process for recovering and purifying crude caprolactam from crude caprolactam-containing wastewaters consisting essentially of the steps: (a) obtaining a wastewater stream containing crude caprolactam from at least one process which by-produces a crude caprolactam-containing wastewater stream selected from caprolactam polymerization, catalytic cracking of polymers and oligomers of caprolactam, and thermoplastic processing of polycaprolactam; (b) mixing the crude caprolactam-containing wastewater stream with between 0.01 to 5% by weight, based on the crude caprolactam in the wastewater stream, of an acid; (c) subjecting the mixture of crude caprolactam-containing wastewater stream and acid obtained according to step (b) to purification distillation at a temperature of between 100 to 180°C and a pressure of between 50 to 3000 Pa; and (d) obtaining purified crude caprolactam as a distillate from step (c).
Abstract:
Disclosed is a process for recovering and purifying crude caprolactam from crude caprolactam-containing wastewaters consisting essentially of the steps:
(a) obtaining a wastewater stream containing crude caprolactam from at least one process which by-produces a crude caprolactam-containing wastewater stream selected from caprolactam polymerization, catalytic cracking of polymers and oligomers of caprolactam, and thermoplastic processing of polycaprolactam; (b) mixing the crude caprolactam-containing wastewater stream with between 0.01 to 5% by weight, based on the crude caprolactam in the wastewater stream, of an acid; (c) subjecting the mixture of crude caprolactam-containing wastewater stream and acid obtained according to step (b) to purification distillation at a temperature of between 100 to 180°C and a pressure of between 50 to 3000 Pa; and (d) obtaining purified crude caprolactam as a distillate from step (c).
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for simultaneously depolymerizing nylon 6 and 6,6 and reclaiming the monomer values by steam distillation, in the presence of a basic nylon depolymerizing catalyst.
Abstract:
ε-Caprolactam is continuously recovered from carpet made from nylon 6 face fibers and a backing. The carpet is fed to a separator to prepare scrap containing nylon 6 and auxiliary materials. The scrap from the separator is fed to a depolymerizing reactor to produce an ε-caprolactam containing distillate and more auxiliary materials. The ε-caprolactam in the distillate is separated from other volatiles and purified. The auxiliary materials are also recovered or re-used.
Abstract:
Verfahren zur Rückgewinnung von Caprolactam aus Polycaprolactam durch hydrolytische Spaltung von Polycaprolactam mit 5 bis 50 Gewichtsteilen Wasser je Gewichtsteil Polycaprolactam bei einer Temperatur von 200 bis 350°C unter erhöhtem Druck unter Erhalt einer wäßrigen Lösung oder Suspension, die monomeres Caprolactam, dessen Oligomeres und gegebenenfalls Polycaprolactam enthält und anschließendes Abtrennen von monomerem Caprolactam aus der wäßrigen Lösung oder Suspension durch Destillation oder Extraktion, wobei man die hydrolytische Spaltung unter Mitverwendung von Alkalihydroxid bei einem pH-Wert von 5 bis 10 durchführt.