Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated process for continuously preparing 1,4-butanediol, which comprises the following stages: (I) reacting formaldehyde with acetylene in the presence of a copper catalyst at a pH of from 5 to 8 and a molar ratio of formaldehyde to acetylene of at most 2:1, (II) intermediately buffering the resulting butynediol-containing aqueous mixture for from 0.1 to 100 h, (III) hydrogenating the mixture obtained after the intermediate buffering and (IV) distilling the hydrogenation product obtained in stage III to obtain 1,4-butanediol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for distillatively purifying crude aqueous 1,4-butanediol (1), in which 1,4-butanediol (5) freed of components having lower boiling points than 1,4-butanediol and water is passed through three distillation columns (III, IV, V), components having a higher boiling point than 1,4-butanediol are drawn off from the bottom of the first column and conducted into the third (7), 1,4-butanediol from the top of the first column (6) is conducted into the second, the bottom product of the second column (9) is conducted into the third, the top product of the third column (11) is recycled at least partly into the first column, wherein the very pure 1,4-butanediol is withdrawn from a side draw of the second column.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated process for continuously preparing 1,4-butanediol, which comprises the following stages: (I) reacting formaldehyde with acetylene in the presence of a copper catalyst at a pH of from 5 to 8 and a molar ratio of formaldehyde to acetylene of at most 2:1, (II) intermediately buffering the resulting butynediol-containing aqueous mixture for from 0.1 to 100 h, (III) hydrogenating the mixture obtained after the intermediate buffering and (IV) distilling the hydrogenation product obtained in stage III to obtain 1,4-butanediol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises compressing 1,4-butynediol to from 50 to 1500 bar, depressurizing it, waiting for phase separation to occur after depressurization and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for making 1,4-butanediol, 1,4-butenediol, or a mixture thereof by processing 1,4-butynediol in a dynamic mixing apparatus in an inert gas atmosphere at from 25 to 150° C. at a shear rate in the radial gap between rotor and stator of the mixing apparatus of more than 100 000 sec?1; phase separating the processed 1,4-butynediol at a temperature of from 25 to 150° C.; removing a bottom phase to obtain purified 1,4-butynediol; and reacting the purified 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises compressing 1,4-butynediol to from 50 to 1500 bar, depressurizing it, waiting for phase separation to occur after depressurization and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for making 1,4-butanediol, 1,4-butenediol, or a mixture thereof by processing 1,4-butynediol in a dynamic mixing apparatus in an inert gas atmosphere at from 25 to 150° C. at a shear rate in the radial gap between rotor and stator of the mixing apparatus of more than 100 000 sec?1; phase separating the processed 1,4-butynediol at a temperature of from 25 to 150° C.; removing a bottom phase to obtain purified 1,4-butynediol; and reacting the purified 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises compressing 1,4-butynediol to from 50 to 1500 bar, depressurizing it, waiting for phase separation to occur after depressurization and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises processing 1,4-butynediol in a dynamic mixing apparatus in an inert gas atmosphere at from 25 to 150° C. at a shear rate in the radial gap between rotor and stator of the mixing apparatus of more than 100 000 sec?1, awaiting phase separation at temperatures of from 25 to 150° C. and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises processing 1,4-butynediol in a dynamic mixing apparatus in an inert gas atmosphere at from 25 to 150° C. at a shear rate in the radial gap between rotor and stator of the mixing apparatus of more than 100 000 sec?1, awaiting phase separation at temperatures of from 25 to 150° C. and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying 1,4-butynediol, which comprises compressing 1,4-butynediol to from 50 to 1500 bar, depressurizing it, waiting for phase separation to occur after depressurization and separating off the bottom phase, and a process for the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol and 1,4-butanediol using the purified 1,4-butynediol.

Abstract: A sheet punching and embossing machine includes a device for punching blanks from sheets. The device has a frame and a bearing plate is mountable in the frame. The bearing plate is equipped with punching and grooving knives. Hydraulically activated clamping elements are provided for clamping the bearing plate in the frame. A hydraulic system includes a piston braced by a mechanical spring for building up hydraulic pressure for activating the clamping elements.

Abstract: A process for preparing at least one unsaturated alcohol (B) comprises the steps (I) to (III) below: (I) reaction of at least one alkali metal hydroxide or alkaline earth metal hydroxide with at least one alcohol (A) in at least one organic solvent (L) to give a mixture (G-I) comprising at least the alcohol (A), the solvent (L) and an alkoxide (AL); (II) reaction of at least one carbonyl compound of the formula R—CO—R? with at least one alkyne of the formula R?—C?C—H and the mixture (G-I) obtained in step (I) to give a mixture (G-II) comprising at least the alcohol (A), the solvent (L) and an unsaturated alcohol (B); (III) distillation of the mixture (G-II) obtained in step (II) to give the alcohol or alcohols (B) and a mixture (G-III) comprising the solvent (L) and the alcohol (A), wherein the solvent (L) obtained in step (III) and the alcohol (A) obtained in step (III) are recycled as a mixture to step (I).

Abstract: A continuous process for the preparation of O—, S— and N-alkenyl compounds by reaction of the corresponding OH, SH or NH compound with an acetylene in the liquid phase in the presence of basic alkali or alkaline earth metal compounds at from 40 to 300° C. and from 0.11 to 5 MPa absolute comprises continuously feeding the corresponding OH, SH or NH compound and the acetylene and operating at a conversion of the corresponding OH, SH or NH compound of ≧90%.

Abstract: A sheet punching and embossing machine includes a device for punching blanks from sheets. The device has a frame and a bearing plate is mountable in the frame. The bearing plate is equipped with punching and grooving knives. Hydraulically activated clamping elements are provided for clamping the bearing plate in the frame. A hydraulic system includes a piston braced by a mechanical spring for building up hydraulic pressure for activating the clamping elements.

Abstract: A method of storing and transporting N-vinyl-&egr;-caprolactam is provided wherein the N-vinyl-&egr;-caprolactam is kept in the liquid phase.

Abstract: A process for preparing N-alkenyl-amides by reacting the corresponding NH-amides with acetylenes in the liquid phase in the presence of basic alkali metal compounds and of a cocatalyst comprises using as the cocatalyst diols of the general formula (I) where X is branched or unbranched alkylene selected from the group consisting of where R1 to R6 are independently hydrogen or C1- to C4-alkyl; or branched or unbranched cyclic alkylene of 3 to 14 carbon atoms including 3 to 12 ring carbon atoms, their monoalkenyl ethers, their dialkenyl ethers or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention encompasses a composition of vinyl compounds, comprising a) at least one polymerizable compound which has at least one O-vinyl group or one N-vinyl group, and b) at least one ammonium salt of the formula (I) where R is NH2, O− NH4+, C1-C18-alkyl, C6-C18-cycloalkyl, or C7-C18-alkylcycloalkyl. The invention further relates to the use of an ammonium salt of the formula (I) as additive to polymerizable compounds which have at least one O-vinyl group or one N-vinyl group, and also to a process for inhibiting premature polymerization of compositions which comprise polymerizable compounds which have at least one O-vinyl group or one N-vinyl group, which encompasses adding to the compositions an ammonium salt of the formula (I).

Abstract: A process for the production of tablet-shaped granular material from a melt, in which (i) a melt is prepared, (ii) the prepared melt is shaped to droplets, (iii) the droplets are deposited on a cooling surface, and (iv) the deposited droplets solidify to give the granular material, wherein the melt comprises an alcohol, and the melt has a melting point of 30° C. or above.

Abstract: A process for preparing N-alkenyl-amides by reacting the corresponding NH-amides with acetylenes in the liquid phase in the presence of basic alkali metal compounds and of a cocatalyst comprises using as the cocatalyst compounds of the general formulae (Ia) and/or (Ib) R1O—(CH2CH2CH2CH2O)n—H  (Ia): R1O—(CH2CH2CH2CH2O)n—R2,  (Ib): where n is 1, 2 or 3 and R1 and R2 are independently C1- to C6-alkyl or C2- to C6-alkenyl, or together a butenyl unit.