Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation of a ketoxime or aldoxime from a ketoxime- or aldoxime-containing amide mixture in which the ketoxime or aldoxime is separated from the amide mixture by distillation. This has proved to be a very simple and direct method for separating the ketoxime and/or aldoxime from the desired amide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the separation of a ketoxime or aldoxime from a ketoxime- or aldoxime-containing amide mixture in which the ketoxime or aldoxime is separated from the amide mixture by means of distillation.

Abstract: Process to prepare &egr;-caprolactam by treating 6-aminocaproic acid, 6-aminocaproate ester or 6-aminocaproamide or mixtures comprising at least two of these compounds in the presence of superheated steam in which a gaseous mixture comprising &egr;-caprolactam and steam is obtained, wherein the process is carried out in the absence of a catalyst at a temperature between 250 and 400° C. and at a pressure of between 0.5 and 2 MPa. The invention also encompasses a process to prepare &egr;-caprolactam starting from 6-aminocapronitrile by performing a hydrolysis and a subsequent step as described above.

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.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of .epsilon.-caprolactam starting from an aldehyde compound comprising at least one member from among 5-formylvaleric acid, ester or amide in which the aldehyde compound is allowed to react in the presence of ammonia and hydrogen and a subsequent cyclization of the reaction products thus formed (.epsilon.-caprolactam-precursors) to .epsilon.-caprolactam is performed in the presence of water, involved the combination of steps(a) contacting the 5-formylvaleric acid, ester or amide with ammonia and water under non-hydrogenation conditions,(b) contacting the resulting mixture of step (a) with hydrogen in the presence of ammonia under hydrogenation conditions, wherein the water content is greater than 10 wt. %,(c) heating the resulting mixture of step (b) at a temperature between 200.degree. and 350.degree. C. in order to convert the reaction products of step (b) to .epsilon.-caprolactam.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of .epsilon.-caprolactam and .epsilon.-caprolactam precursors, starting from the corresponding 5-formylvalerate ester, ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst is disclosed, wherein in a step (a) 5-formylvalerate ester is reacted with ammonia under non-hydrogenating conditions, and in a step (b) the reaction product obtained in step (a) is converted to .epsilon.-caprolactam and the .epsilon.-caprolactam precursor(s) under hydrogenating conditions, in the presence of ammonia.