Abstract: A valve accommodated in a separation tray including upper (3) and lower (5) trays, a lock (1) formed between the upper (3) and lower (5) trays. The valve (13) includes a closing element (11) configured such that an orifice (9) in the lower tray (5) is closed by the closing element (11) in a first valve position so that liquid flows from the upper tray (3) into the lock (1), and, in a second valve position, the orifice (9) and an orifice (7) in the upper tray (3) are opened so that gas flows through the lock (1) and liquid on the upper tray (3). The closing element (11) is in the form of a hood including a jacket (23) having orifices (21) positioned in such a way that, in the second valve position, gas flows through the orifices (21) into the liquid on the upper tray (3).

Abstract: A valve for carrying out a mass-transfer process, in which a gas flows through liquid standing on a separating tray, when the gas supply is interrupted the liquid flows into a lock and, when the gas supply is restarted, the liquid flows out of the lock, wherein the valve contains a closing element which is designed in such a manner that, with the closing element in a first valve position, a first opening in a lower tray of the lock is closable, and the closing element is conducted in a first sleeve which is positioned between the upper tray bordering the lock and the lower tray in which sleeve, in the region of the lock, second openings are formed, and which projects over the upper tray and has a lift limiter for the closing element.

Abstract: Process for preparing methyl formate by carbonylation of methanol by means of carbon monoxide in a carbonylation reactor in the presence of a catalyst system comprising alkali metal formate and alkali metal alkoxide to give a reaction mixture (RM) which comprises methyl formate, alkali metal formate, alkali metal alkoxide and possibly unreacted methanol and unreacted carbon monoxide and is taken from the carbonylation reactor, wherein the reaction mixture (RM) comprises at least 0.5% by weight of alkali metal alkoxide based on the total weight of the reaction mixture (RM) and the molar ratio of alkali metal formate to alkali metal alkoxide in the reaction mixture (RM) is greater than 1.

Abstract: Process for obtaining formic acid by thermal separation of a stream comprising formic acid and a tertiary amine (I), in which a liquid stream comprising formic acid and tertiary amine (I) is produced by combining tertiary amine (I) and a formic acid source, secondary components comprised therein are separated off, formic acid is removed by distillation from the resulting liquid stream in a distillation apparatus, where the bottom output from the distillation apparatus is separated into two liquid phases, and the upper liquid phase is recirculated to the formic acid source and the lower liquid phase is recirculated to the separation of the secondary components and/or to the distillation apparatus, wherein low boilers are removed by distillation from the upper liquid phase and recirculated to the depleted stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for carrying out a mass-transfer process in a column (1) comprising at least two separating trays (5), wherein each separating tray (5) comprises an upper tray (7) and a lower tray (9), and between the trays (7, 9) a lock (13) is formed, and valves (11) are provided which are designed in such a manner that a gas can flow through the separating tray (5), on interruption of the gas flow liquid flows from the upper tray (7) into the lock (13), and when gas supply is restarted, the liquid drains out of the lock (13), comprising the following steps: (a) flow of a gas exiting through valves (11) in the separating tray (5) through a liquid standing on the upper tray (7), wherein the amount of gas is high enough that no liquid flows back through the valve (11), (b) interruption of the gas supply in such a manner that the liquid runs through the valves (11) into the lock (13), (c) restart of the gas supply, wherein valves (11) in the lower tray (9) open, in such a manner that the liq

Abstract: Process for preparing methyl formate by carbonylation of methanol by means of carbon monoxide in a carbonylation reactor in the presence of a catalyst system comprising alkali metal formate and alkali metal alkoxide to give a reaction mixture (RM) which comprises methyl formate, alkali metal formate, alkali metal alkoxide and possibly unreacted methanol and unreacted carbon monoxide and is taken from the carbonylation reactor, wherein the reaction mixture (RM) comprises at least 0.5% by weight of alkali metal alkoxide based on the total weight of the reaction mixture (RM) and the molar ratio of alkali metal formate to alkali metal alkoxide in the reaction mixture (RM) is greater than 1.