Abstract:
A process for depolymerizing nylon 6 and recovering caprolactam from the depolymerized products by extraction with alkyl phenolic compounds. Process steps include (a) treating a first mixture comprising nylon 6 with water at a temperature between about 200.degree. C. and about 400.degree. C. to yield a second mixture comprising depolymerized nylon 6 components, wherein the second mixture contains caprolactam at a concentration between about 5 wt. % and about 35 wt. %; (b) optionally, separating insoluble material from the second mixture; (c) extracting the second mixture with an extraction agent to yield an aqueous raffinate third mixture and an organic phase fourth mixture comprising caprolactam and the extraction agent, wherein the extraction agent is an alkyl phenol having a boiling point higher than that of the caprolactam; (d) recovering caprolactam from the organic phase fourth mixture by distillation; (e) recycling the aqueous raffinate third mixture to step (a).
Abstract:
The invention comprises a process of producing .epsilon.-caprolactam from extract water of polycaprolactam obtained by hydrolytic polymerization, wherein(i) the extract water is concentrated by distillation of water,(ii) from the concentrated extract water from stage (i) an extract of .epsilon.-caprolactam and oligomers including dimers is obtained by separating an .epsilon.-caprolactam/water vapor mixture,(iii) the extract from stage (ii) is depolymerized in the presence of a catalyst and superheated steam, where a vapor mixture of .epsilon.-caprolactam and water is obtained, and(iv) from the .epsilon.-caprolactam/water vapor mixtures of process stages (ii) and (iii) .epsilon.-caprolactam with a dimer content of .ltoreq.0.2 wt-% is obtained by distillation of water.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for depolymerising one or more polyamides in the presence of at least an aliphatic alcohol, the depolymerisation taking place with at most 40 mol. % catalyst. This process provides good selectivity towards the monomeric components of polyamides. This process moreover causes as few waste streams as possible.
Abstract:
Caprolactam is obtained from caprolactam-containing polymers in the presence of a base under reduced pressure by depolymerizing polymers which contain the repeating unit --[--N(H)--(CH.sub.2).sub.5 --C(O)--] or mixtures consisting essentially offrom 50 to 99.99% by weight of a polymer containing the repeating unit --[--N(H)--(CH.sub.2).sub.5 --C(O)--]--from 0.01 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 additives,from 0 to 40% by weight of non-polyamide-containing polymers andfrom 0 to 20% by weight of polyamides, with the exception of polycaprolactam and copolyamides prepared from caprolactam,in at least two depolymerization reactors connected in series.
Abstract:
Caprolactam is obtained from caprolactam-containing polymers in the presence of superheated water by bringing polymers which contain the repeating unit--[--N(H)--(CH.sub.2).sub.5 --C(O)--]--or mixtures consisting essentially of______________________________________from 40 to 99.9% by weight of a polymer containing the repeat- ing unit --[--N(H)--(CH.sub.2).sub.5 --C(O)--]--,from 0.01 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 additives,from 0 to 40% by weight of non-polyamide-containing polymers andfrom 0 to 60% by weight of polyamides, with the exception of polycaprolactam and copolyamides prepared from caprolactam,______________________________________into contact with superheated water at from 280.degree. to 320.degree. C. and from 7.5 to 15 MPa and a weight ratio of water to polymer containing the repeating unit --[--N(H)--(CH.sub.2).sub.5 --C(O)--]-- of from 5:1 to 13:1 and in a reaction time of less than 3 hours, with the proviso that the reaction mixture, consisting essentially of water and the polymer used or the mixture used, contains no gaseous phase under the conditions of the hydrolysis.
Abstract:
A process for the purification of caprolactam from crude caprolactam by distilling the crude caprolactam in the presence of an anorganic or organic acid.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of reacting polyamides or mixtures thereof with ammonia to obtain a mixture of monomers. The reaction is carried out in the presence of certain Lewis Acid catalyst precursors.
Abstract:
A process for recovering caprolactam from oligomers and/or polymers of caprolactam comprises the following steps:a) treating oligomers and/or polymers of caprolactam with from 1 to 20 parts by weight of water per part by weight of oligomer or polymer at from 200.degree. to 350.degree. C. under superatmospheric pressure with a residence time of from 0.5 to 10 hours to form an aqueous reaction mixture comprising polycaprolactam, monomeric caprolactam and oligomers thereof, andb) passing the aqueous reaction mixture obtained in a) into a fluidized bed of alumina at from 250.degree. to 400.degree. C. to obtain a mixture of steam and caprolactam.
Abstract:
Caprolactam is obtained by cleaving oligomers of caprolactam by a process in which the oligomers, in a liquid or solid state, are introduced into a fluidized alumina bed and cleaved at from 290.degree. to 400.degree. C. in the presence of steam, and, in addition to the amount of inert gas required to fluidize the alumina bed, from 0.1 to 3 times this amount of inert gas is introduced above the fluidized bed.
Abstract:
This invention is the method to recover caprolactam from a concentrated nylon 6 chip wash water containing water, cyclic oligomer, and caprolactam. The method comprises feeding the concentrated wash water to a wiped-film evaporator operated at a temperature of from about 200.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. and a pressure from about 10 to about 250 Torr, thereby separating the wash water into (a) an overhead stream of water and caprolactam and (b) a bottom stream of caprolactam and cyclic oligomers, then recovering the caprolactam from the overhead stream. The caprolactam in the bottom stream can also be recovered, and the cyclic oligomers depolymerized to caprolactam for recovery.