Abstract: A process for the preparation of vinyl acetate by a heterogeneously catalysed, continuous gas-phase reaction of ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen in a reactor, where process heat liberated during the reaction is removed from the reactor by means of heat exchange with water, generating intrinsic steam, the product mixture leaving the reactor and comprising ethylene, vinyl acetate, acetic acid, water, carbon dioxide and inert gases is separated by distillation using one or more azeotrope columns and/or one or more pure distillation columns, wherein at least one azeotrope column and/or pure distillation column contains packings, and intrinsic steam is used at least partially for introducing energy into the thus-equipped azeotrope columns and/or pure distillation columns.

Abstract: A method for producing vinyl acetate in a heterogeneously catalyzed, continuous gas phase process by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen in a reactor and separating the product gas stream substantially comprising ethylene, vinyl acetate, acetic acid, water, carbon dioxide and inert gases.

Abstract: A method for producing vinyl acetate in a heterogeneously catalyzed, continuous gas phase process by reacting ethylene with acetic acid and oxygen in a reactor and separating the product gas stream substantially comprising ethylene, vinyl acetate, acetic acid, water, carbon dioxide and inert gases.

Abstract: In a process for the preparation of copolymers containing vinyl esters and ethylene or ethylenically unsaturated monomers by aqueous, free radical polymerization at a pressure of from 5 to 100 bar absolute by the emulsion or suspension polymerization method, after the end of the polymerization, the reaction mixture is let down to a pressure of from 0.1 to 5 bar absolute and recovery of unconverted monomers is effected by multistage fractional low-temperature condensation from the residual gas.

Abstract: In a process for the preparation of copolymers containing vinyl esters and ethylene or ethylenically unsaturated monomers by aqueous, free radical polymerization at a pressure of from 5 to 100 bar absolute by the emulsion or suspension polymerization method, after the end of the polymerization, the reaction mixture is let down to a pressure of from 0.1 to 5 bar absolute and recovery of unconverted monomers is effected by multistage fractional low-temperature condensation from the residual gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating and purifying an aqueous mixture that mainly consists of acetic acid, formic acid and high-boiling substances by extraction with a solvent in a cyclic process. The inventive method is characterized in that the flow of raffinate is fed to a solvent stripping column (11) with the major part of the water in order to remove the water from the cycle. The flow of extract is fed to a solvent recovery distillation column (8). In a first step, a mixture (A) that consists of water and solvent, is separated by overhead distillation. A mixture (B) that consists of acetic acid, formic acid and high-boiling substances is separated via a sump. Once the formic acid is removed in a column (29), mixture (B) is separated in an acetic acid distillation column to give pure acetic acid and high-boiling substances.

Abstract: A method for the separation and purification of an aqueous mixture of main components, namely acetic acid and formic acid and non-volatiles by extraction, uses a solvent in a circulatory system. A raffinate stream is mixed with the larger proportion of water from a solvent stripper column (11) for the removal of water. The extraction stream is introduced into a solvent distillation column (8), from which in a first step involving the use of a mixture (A) containing a larger proportion of the solvent is separated out via a header and a mixture (B) of formic acid, water and solvent is separated out via a side offtake and a mixture (C) of acetic acid and non-volatiles is also separated out. A mixture (B) is introduced into a formic acid distillation column (4) for further processing, and a mixture (C) is introduced into an acetic acid distillation column (5), and purified acetic acid is subsequently isolated in the acetic acid distillation column (5) from the header.