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:
A process for the reduction of methylbenzofuran (MBF) impurities in phenol obtained from the decomposition product of cumene hydroperoxide requires treating the phenol to reduce the level of acetol, contacting the phenol containing a low level of acetol with an acid resin at sufficient temperature and residence time to reduce the level of MBF by conversion to higher boiling compounds, then distilling the phenol to separate phenol from higher boiling compounds. The phenol may be treated in known ways, such as by treatment with an amine, to reduce the level of acetol. The phenol containing a low level of acetol is contacted with a strong acid resin to reduce the level of MBF.
Abstract:
A process for the reduction of methylbenzofuran (MBF) impurities in phenol obtained from the decomposition product of cumene hydroperoxide requires treating the phenol to reduce the level of acetol, contacting the phenol containing a low level of acetol with an acid resin at sufficient temperature and residence time to reduce the level of MBF by conversion to higher boiling compounds, then distilling the phenol to separate phenol from higher boiling compounds. The phenol may be treated in known ways, such as by treatment with an amine, to reduce the level of acetol. The phenol containing a low level of acetol is contacted with a strong acid resin to reduce the level of MBF.
Abstract:
In a process for separating phenol obtained by the decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide from high boiling impurities, the improvement comprising: a) feeding phenol rectification bottoms comprising phenol, acetophenone, cumylphenol, alpha-methylstyrene dimers and high boiler residues to a first phenol freeing distillation column A; b) feeding concentrated bottoms with substantially reduced phenol content from column A to a second residue concentration distillation column B; c) withdrawing a stream rich in compounds boiling between phenol and residue, particularly cumylphenol, from said column B from a point below the feed and returning at least a portion of said stream to said column A at a point above the feed; d) recovering overheads from column A comprising at least 95 weight percent phenol; and e) recovering acetophenone-rich overheads from column B comprising at least 70 weight percent acetophenone.
Abstract:
In a process for separating phenol obtained by the decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide from high boiling impurities, the improvement comprising: a) feeding phenol rectification bottoms comprising phenol, acetophenone, cumylphenol, alpha-methylstyrene dimers and high boiler residues to a first phenol freeing distillation column A; b) feeding concentrated bottoms with substantially reduced phenol content from column A to a second residue concentration distillation column B; c) withdrawing a stream rich in compounds boiling between phenol and residue, particularly cumylphenol, from said column B from a point below the feed and returning at least a portion of said stream to said column A at a point above the feed; d) recovering overheads from column A comprising at least 95 weight percent phenol; and e) recovering acetophenone-rich overheads from column B comprising at least 70 weight percent acetophenone.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a process for the preparation of purified caprolactam comprising the steps of: (a) depolymerizing polyamide-containing carpet in the presence of steam to obtain crude caprolactam and steam; (b) removing substantially all of said water from said crude caprolactam and steam; (c) distilling the resulting concentrated crude caprolactam at a pressure of less than about 8 mmHg and a temperature from about 110 °C to about 145 °C so as to form overheads and bottoms of the caprolactam; and (d) crystallizing the caprolactam overheads to obtain caprolactam crystals and mother liquor. The resulting purified caprolactam may then be used to make polycaprolactam which may then be used in engineered materials or spun into fiber.
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:
The present invention provides a process for the preparation of purified caprolactam comprising the steps of: (a) depolymerizing polyamide-containing carpet in the presence of steam to obtain crude caprolactam and steam; (b) removing substantially all of said water from said crude caprolactam and steam; (c) distilling the resulting concentrated crude caprolactam at a pressure of less than about 8 mmHg and a temperature from about 110 °C to about 145 °C so as to form overheads and bottoms of the caprolactam; and (d) crystallizing the caprolactam overheads to obtain caprolactam crystals and mother liquor. The resulting purified caprolactam may then be used to make polycaprolactam which may then be used in engineered materials or spun into fiber.