Abstract: A process for the production of n-butyl acrylate (BuAcA) including the steps of esterifying acrylic acid (HAcA) with n-butanol (n-BuOH) in a reaction zone, obtaining a condensate from the overhead vapors from the reaction zone which separates into organic and aqueous phases, feeding the organic phase comprising a major portion of BuAcA and minor portions of BuOH, water and light ends impurities to a finishing fractionation zone from which is obtained a side stream of a finished high purity BuAcA and an overhead condensate comprising BuAcA, BuOH, water and light ends, recycling most of the overhead condensate from the finishing zone to the reaction zone, feeding the remainder of such condensate to a purge recovery zone, obtaining an overhead condensate from the purge recovery zone which separates into organic and aqueous phases each containing a portion of light ends produced in the reaction, recycling a portion of the organic phase as reflux to the purge recovery zone and discarding the remainder.

Abstract: Broadly, the present invention is directed to a process for the removal of sulfur from an acrylate waste stream. In particular, disclosed is a process for the recovery and reuse of an acid catalyst employed primarily in the reaction of acrylic esters. During the reaction of acrylic acid and an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst, the product acrylate and water are removed from the remaining reaction by-products (heavy ends and oligomers). These by-product heavy end components which include the acid catalyst employed in the reaction process, are directed to an evaporator. The residue stream therefrom is then contacted with water in an extractor. Upon contact with water, a phase separation occurs between the acid catalyst/water mixture and other organic matter. The organic matter is discarded while the acid/water mixture is recycled to the reaction process.

Abstract: A process for preparing esters E of low residual acid content from .alpha.,.beta.-monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 mono- and dicarboxylic acids S and hydroxyl-containing polycondensates P, wherea) the acid S and the polycondensate P or the monomeric and/or oligomeric and/or polymeric components which form the polycondensate P, are reacted in the presence or absence of a solvent and/or of an esterification catalyst and/or of further additives, with removal of the water which forms, andb) the unreacted acid S is removed by distillation,comprises adding water for the distillative removal of the acid S in step b).

Abstract: 5-Formylvaleric esters are prepared in a yield of not less than 90% by distillation of a formylvaleric ester mixture of 5-formylvaleric ester and either 3- or 4-formylvaleric ester or a mixture of 3- and 4-formylvaleric esters, where the ester radicals of the respective formylvaleric esters are identical, wherein the 3- or 4-formylvaleric ester or a mixture thereof is separated from the 5-formylvaleric ester in a distillation column at a pressure in the range from 2 to 100 mbar and a temperature of not above 150.degree. C. (measured as the temperature at the bottom of the column) and the esters used are the corresponding methyl or ethyl esters, where the purity of the 5-formylvaleric ester is not less than 98% and, as impurity, 4-formylvaleric ester is present in an amount of not more than 100 ppm.

Abstract: The use of organic, polymeric, anionic water-soluble flocculants for the phase separation of an organic-aqueous system which essentially comprises monomeric acrylates, diacrylates, (poly)ester acrylates or (poly)ether acrylates and unreacted residues of the carboxylic anhydrides, carboxylic acids or alcohols used for preparing the acrylates.

Abstract: An improved process for producing n-butyl acrylate in high yield and high purity substantially free of acrylic acid, incorporates one or more of the following new process components in an acid-catalyzed esterification process for producing n-butyl acrylate:1. A hydrolytic recovery component, wherein heavy end adducts produced during the acid-catalyzed esterification are hydrolyzed, recovered, and recycled as valuable reactants from a hydrolytic recovery unit (HRU);2. A cracking reactor component, preferably used with the HRU, wherein additional valuable reactants are recovered and recycled after treatment in the cracking reactor; and3. A new distillative component, wherein a crude n-butyl acrylate stream is efficiently distilled in an aqueous mode through an acrylic acid separation column, thereby providing n-butyl acrylate substantially free of acrylic acid and in high yield.The first two components also are applicable to acid-catalyzed processes producing C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl acrylates.

Abstract: A process for preparing refined acrylic esters, the process including steps of distilling an acrylic ester containing stream in the presence of hydroquinone or substituted hydroquinone, at a concentration in the range of 200 to 5000 ppmw, wherein the distillation is carried out in the presence of 0.001 to 1.0 % v, on the vapor phase, of oxygen.

Abstract: Synthesis of a vinyl terminated polymer by reacting a cationically polymerizable monomer in the form of a cyclic ether with an acid chloride in a suitable solvent and in the presence of a Lewis acid. The vinyl-terminated polymers can be polymerized with other appropriate monomers resulting in thermoplastic elastomers having suitable properties for use as binders for explosives and propellants.

Abstract: In a process and an apparatus for the continuous preparation of alkyl esters of (meth)acrylic acid by reacting (meth)acrylic acid and monohydric alkanols of 1 to 8 carbon atoms in the homogeneous, liquid, solvent-free phase at elevated temperatures and in the presence of an acidic esterification catalyst, by feeding the (meth)acrylic acid, the alkanol and the acid catalyst continuously to a reaction zone, the reaction zone consists of a cascade of at least two reaction regions connected in series, and the discharge stream of one reaction region forms a feed stream of a downstream reaction region. The cascade may have from two to four reaction regions is spatially separated from one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a carboxylic acid ester by reacting a carboxylic acid with an alcohol in a suspension of a strongly acidic cation exchange resin which is a catalyst, which process comprises introducing a reaction mixture slurry containing said ion exchange resin, from a reactor for the above reaction to a resin-separating vessel, separating, in said resin-separating vessel, said reaction mixture slurry into a clear solution and a slurry-like high-concentration mixture, and discharging the clear solution from the upper section of the resin-separating vessel and the slurry-like high-concentration mixture from near the bottom of the resin-separating vessel to circulate it into the reactor. Preferably, the resin-separating vessel is operated under such conditions that the ascending speed of the clear solution becomes 0.003 m/sec or less. The process allows efficient separation/recovery of ion exchange resin from reaction mixture and reuse of recovered resin in the reaction.

Abstract: The polymerization of a vinylaromatic or vinylaliphatic compound at elevated temperature in the absence of air is inhibited by processing the vinylaromatic or vinylaliphatic compound in the presence of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl or 4-acetylamino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxylalone or in admixture with p-nitrosophenol or 2-methyl-4-nitrosophenol.

Abstract: An improved process for producing n-butyl acrylate in high yield and high purity substantially free of acrylic acid, incorporates one or more of the following new process components in an acid-catalyzed esterification process for producing n-butyl acrylate:1. A hydrolytic recovery component, wherein heavy end adducts produced during the acid-catalyzed esterification are hydrolyzed, recovered, and recycled as valuable reactants from a hydrolytic recovery unit (HRU);2. A cracking reactor component, preferably used with the HRU, wherein additional valuable reactants are recovered and recycled after treatment in the cracking reactor; and3. A new distillative component, wherein a crude n-butyl acrylate stream is efficiently distilled in an aqueous mode through an acrylic acid separation column, thereby providing n-butyl acrylate substantially free of acrylic acid and in high yield.The first two components also are applicable to acid-catalyzed processes producing C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl acrylates.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for reducing one or more carbonyl impurity present in a monomer of an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid or its alkyl ester by treating the monomer containing the carbonyl impurities with a trialkyl phosphite or a triaryl phosphite.

Abstract: In a process for esterifying (meth)acrylic acid with an alkanol in the presence of an esterification catalyst, in which unconverted starting compounds and the (meth)acrylate to be formed are separated off by distillation and an oxyester-containing bottom product is formed, the bottom product is first separated off, the oxyesters contained therein are then separated off by distillation and the resulting distillate is cleaved in the presence of acids at elevated temperatures. The process can be carried out in the presence of molecular oxygen. The distillate is cleaved at from 170.degree. to 250.degree. C., preferably from 180.degree. to 230.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process whereby hydroxy-containing methacrylate homo- and copolymers are decolorized by the addition of a strong acid and a chelating bidentate nitrogen ligand, with subsequent filtering through a polar adsorption medium.

Abstract: To recover these noble products consisting of acrylic acid monomer, acrylic ester monomers and alcohols, a thermal cracking is performed in the absence of catalyst on a mixture of heavy distillation residues originating, on the one hand, from the manufacture of acrylic acid and, on the other hand, from the manufacture of the esters, the light fraction originating from the dissociation reactions is continuously vaporized during the cracking operation and this light fraction is distilled in order to recover, after condensation, the required products.

Abstract: A diester of (meth)acrylic acid with a C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 -alkanediol is separated from a mixture which essentially consists of the C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 -alkanediol, the monoester of (meth)acrylic acid with the C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 -alkanediol and the diester of (meth)acrylic acid with the C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 -alkanediol by extraction with an organic solvent in the presence of water, by a process in which the diester-containing mixture is added continuously in the middle section of an extraction column and in addition water and the organic extracting agent are passed continuously countercurrent in the extraction column.

Abstract: An acrylic acid ester is manufactured by reaction of the said acid and an alcohol chosen from C.sub.

Abstract: 1,4-butanediol mono(meth)acrylate is prepared by esterification of (meth)acrylic acid with 1,4-butanediol, by a process in which an aqueous solution of unconverted 1,4-butanediol is obtained, wherein the 1,4-butanediol present in the aqueous solution is converted into readily volatile tetrahydrofuran in the presence of a catalytic amount of a strong acid and the tetrahydrofuran is separated off from the aqueous solution.

Abstract: A process for the separation of a mono(meth)acrylate of a C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 alkanediol from an aqueous solution containing a mono(meth)acrylate of a C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 alkanediol and the said C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 alkanediol, by extraction with an organic solvent, in which the extracting agent used is an organic solvent selected from the group comprising esters of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanecarboxylic acids and C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkanols, single and mixed dialkyl ethers having from 4 to 8 C atoms, and mixtures of such organic solvents.

Abstract: A process for producing methyl methacrylate comprises: (a) reacting acetone cyanohydrin with sulphuric acid or an oleum, in order to obtain methacrylamide; (b) reacting the methacrylamide thus obtained either directly, or after it has been isolated, with methanol in the presence of water; (c) separating the methyl methacrylate from the sulphuric acid, ammonium sulphate and water mixture by distillation; (d) removing the unreacted methanol by liquid-liquid extraction; (e) distilling the washed methyl methacrylate in two stages: (e1) firstly, in order to remove the remaining traces of water, of methanol and of low-boiling-point impurities; then (e2) in order to separate the pure methyl methacrylate from the high- boiling-point impurities.

Abstract: Pure, substantially neutral, low-volatile organic compounds including reactive double bonds are advantageously isolated from a liquid feedstock which contains said compounds in combination with acidic reaction components or auxiliary materials by (i) adding to the feedstock, as neutralizing agents, finely powdered oxides, carbonates and/or hydroxides of the alkali metals and/or alkaline earth metals; (ii) adding, at the same time as the addition of the neutralizing agents or thereafter, a limited amount of water to the mixture of feedstock and neutralizing agents; (iii) mechanically mixing the liquid and solid mixture thus formed for at least a few minutes; (iv) distilling off water from the hot reaction mixture under reduced pressure; and (v) removal from the liquid product of the solid phase now present. Pure products which even without distillation exhibit low residual acid values in combination with low color values result.

Abstract: A method for removing hydrogen cyanide from a hydrogen cyanide-contaminated organic liquid includes the steps of contacting the hydrogen cyanide-contaminated organic liquid with a metal alkoxide to generate a metal cyanide salt and an alkanol and then separating the organic liquid from the metal cyanide salt and the alkanol.

Abstract: An alkyl (meth)acrylate is prepared by a direct esterification (in 1) of (meth)acrylic acid by the corresponding alcohol, catalysed by H.sub.2 SO.sub.4. To the crude reaction mixture (C.sub.1) comprising the desired ester, alcohol, (meth)acrylic acid, alkyl hydrogen sulphate and traces of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, there is added (in 3) a base to neutralize the acidic species, the resulting salts passing into the aqueous phase (A.sub.1), which is separated from the organic phase (O.sub.1) containing the desired ester. The light products (L.sub.1) containing the alcohol are recovered (in 4) from the aqueous phase, and the waste waters (W.sub.2) are expelled. A hydrolysis is carried out (in 8) of the alkyl hydrogen sulphate present in the aqueous phase (A.sub.1) obtained after the separation which is carried out after neutralization (in 3), to form the alcohol and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in this phase, the acidic species resulting from the hydrolysis are neutralized by introduction of a base .

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for purifying a polar vinyl compound, comprising pressurizing a crude polar vinyl compound containing impurities such as polymerization inhibiting substances and components of starting materials used in preparation of the polar vinyl compound to 500-3000 atm at 0.degree.-100.degree. C., the polar vinyl compound having at least one member selected from among oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, to thereby form crystals of the polar vinyl compound and separating the crystals of the polar vinyl compound from a liquid phase under pressure.

Abstract: This invention is a method for removing certain carbonyl containing impurities from .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester with an aqueous solution of a bisulfite or dithionite salt.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for reducing carbonyl-containing impurities in .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters by treatment of the ester with one or more of a selected phenylenediamine and an acid.

Abstract: A distillation process is used to separate methanol from a mixture of methanol with methyl acrylate or methyl methacrylate, as well as from a mixture of methanol and water with methyl acrylate or methyl methacrylate with the use of an azeotropic solvent, which forms an azeotropic mixture with methanol. In distilling such a mixture by the use of a distillation column:(1) part of the condensate of vapors distilled over from the top of the distillation column top is returned to the top of the column;(2) the remaining condensate is separated into two layers;(3) the upper layer essentially composed of an azeotropic solvent from the two separated layers is fed to an intermediate portion of the distillation column;(4) the lower layer essentially composed of methanol from the above two separated layers is withdrawn from the distillation system; and(5) methyl acrylate or methyl methacrylate, or else, methyl acrylate or methyl methacrylate and water, are recovered from the bottom of the column.

Abstract: Hexane is difficult to separate from vinyl acetate and/or methyl acrylate by conventional distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. Hexane can be readily separated from vinyl acetate and/or methyl acrylate by extractive distillation. Effective agents are dimethylsulfoxide and dimethylformamide.

Abstract: A process for reducing the amount of unwanted di(meth)acrylate produced during the distillation of hydroxyalkyl acrylates or hydroxyalkyl methacrylates.

Abstract: A process for producing a carboxylic acid ester which comprises reacting a carboxylic acid with an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce a reaction solution and neutralizing the reaction solution, characterized by using a countercurrently contacting column for neutralization, into which the esterified reaction solution is introduced at the lower portion of the column, an aqueous strong alkaline solution at a middle portion and an aqueous weak alkaline solution at an upper portion, removing a neutralized oil phase containing the carboxylic acid ester from the top of the column and removing an aqueous phase from the bottom, thereby continuously neutralizing the reaction solution.

Abstract: The invention describes a process for the partial or complete exchange of the free radical inhibitors (preparation inhibitor) from their admixtures with free radical-reactive--and especially polymerizable and/or cross-linkable--olefinically mono- and/or polyunsaturated compounds against free radical inhibitors or inhibitor systems (application inhibitor), the kind and amount of which are freely determinable.

Abstract: The separation of vinyl acetate from methyl acrylate by distillation is difficult because of the closeness of their boiling points. Vinyl acetate can be readily removed from methyl acrylate by extractive distillation. Typical effective agents are phenol, methoxyethanol and isobutyl vinyl ether.

Abstract: Hexane cannot be removed from hexane--vinyl acetate--methyl acrylate mixtures because of the ternary azeotrope. Hexane can be readily removed from hexane--vinyl acetate--methyl acrylate mixtures by extractive distillation. Typical effective agents are phenol, diethylene glycol methyl ether and 2-nitropropane.

Abstract: An improved process for the separation of enantiomers of a racemic mixture of certain aliphatic carboxylic acids or esters thereof is disclosed. The process involves: (i) forming a salt solution comprising said racemic mixture of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 linear or branched aliphatic carboxylic acid and an organic or inorganic base; (ii) treating said salt solution with one-half molar equivalent of a chiral organic nitrogenous base having a base strength no stronger than said organic or inorganic base; and (iii) precipitating from the reaction solution formed in step (ii) the less soluble diastereomeric salt, the improvement being adding to the salt solution of step (ii) an inert organic or inorganic base that is soluble in the salt solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of pure, substantially neutral, low-volatility organic compounds containing reactive olefinic double bonds from starting materials which contain these components together with small quantities of acidic reaction constituents and/or corresponding auxiliaries in the liquid phase by neutralization and separation of the salts formed. The process according to the invention is characterized in that, to obtain pure products which combine low residual acid values with low color standard numbers, even without distillation, the neutralization is carried out as dry neutralization using solid, finely powdered oxides, carbonates and/or hydroxides of the alkali and/or alkaline earth metals, if desired together with other insoluble basic metal oxide compounds, and the organic liquid phase is subsequently separated from the finely powdered solid phase. The oxides and/or hydroxides of calcium and/or magnesium are preferably used for neutralization.

Abstract: Process for the continuous preparation of lower acrylates from an aqueous solution of acrylic acid and from a lower alcohol, the esterification reaction taking place in liquid phase in a reactor, at a temperature of between 50.degree. C. and 110.degree. C., in the presence of at least one esterification catalyst, the reaction products leaving the reactor, consisting of a mixture of lower acrylate, water and unreacted starting compounds, being sent to the bottom of a distillation column and the lower acrylate being recovered at the head of the said column and sent towards a purification device. The said aqueous solution of acrylic acid is introduced at the bottom of the said distillation column where it is subjected to an azeotropic distillation, the stream obtained at the foot of the column, enriched in acrylic acid, then being recycled towards the reactor so that at the entry of the said reactor the molar ratio of acrylic acid to the lower alcohol is between 0.5 and 4.5.

Abstract: Black acid or the sulfuric acid residue obtained in the manufacture of ethyl acrylate by reaction of ethylene and acrylic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid is heated and distilled in the presence of a solvent for recovery of acrylic acid and ethyl acrylate.

Abstract: Monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylates are prepared by a process in which, following esterification,a) the product mixture is extracted in a first extraction stage with from 5 to 30% v/v of water, based on the product mixture, at a temperature of from 10.degree. to 40.degree. C., andb) the aqueous phase from the first extraction stage is extracted, in a second extraction stage, with from one to four times its weight of the alkanol to be esterified, at a temperature of from 10.degree. to 30.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for purifying methyl methacrylate which comprises treating methyl methacrylate having a purity of 99.5% or more containing a trace of impurities with a sulfonic acid group-containing compounds. According to the present invention, there can be obtained highly purified methyl methacrylate which exhibits an absorbance of 0.02 or less in a range of wavelength of 400-500 nm according to the sulfuric acid color method and is free of even a trace of furan-type compounds.

Abstract: A purification process for methyl methacrylate (MMA) and a recovery process for methanol are disclosed. A mixture, which contains water, methanol and methyl methacrylate (MMA) as principal components along with at least one of methyl acrylate, methyl propionate and methacrylic acid, is azeotropically distilled together with hexane to obtain MMA in a form substantially free of water, methanol methyl acrylate, methyl propionate and hexane and a low boiling-point fraction. The low boiling-point fraction is cooled and separated into a water phase and an oil phase. Methanol can be recovered from the water phase by adding an alkaline substance to it and then distilling the resultant mixture. A preparation process of MMA is also disclosed. MMA can be prepared by esterifying methacrylic acid or methacrylamide with methanol and then applying the above purification process.

Abstract: A method of preparing high-boiling acrylates and methacrylates with low color indices by means of the transesterification of methyl acrylate and methacrylate with polyvalent alcohols is known ways which is characterized in that the product is subjected, after the separation of the catalyst, to a short-path evaporation at a bottom temperature of 110.degree. to 170.degree. C. and a pressure of 0.01 to 10 mbar.

Abstract: Black acid or the sulfuric acid residue obtained in the manufacture of ethyl acrylate by reaction of ethylene and acrylic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid is heated and distilled in a distillation zone in the presence of a solvent to form an overhead mixture comprising an organic phase containing ethyl acrylate and solvent, and an aqueous phase containing water, solvent and acrylic acid. The aqueous phase is recycled to the distillation zone for recovery of additional acrylic acid value from the organic phase.

Abstract: Methyl methacrylate is efficiently transesterified with a heavy alcohol in the presence of (i) defined amounts of a lithium catalyst incrementally added to the reaction medium, and (ii) an azeotrope-forming compound which forms, together with the methanol produced, an azeotrope distilling at a temperature of less than about 60.degree. C.

Abstract: 2-cis-Pentenoates are isomerized to 2-trans-pentenoates by a process in which a 2-cis-pentenoate is treated at from 20.degree. to 250.degree. C. in the presence of one or more compounds of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each cycloalkyl of 5 to 8 carbon atoms or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together with the nitrogen atom on which they are substituents may form a 5-membered to 7-membered ring which may additionally contain a further nitrogen or oxygen atom, and R.sup.3 is hydrogen or a radical of the formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.4 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 to 7 carbon atoms, aralkyl of 7 to 10 carbon atoms or aryl of 6 to 10 carbon atoms, with the proviso that a tertiary amine is present only when R.sup.3 is a radical of the formula II.

Abstract: The monomer, trimethyl ammonium ethyl methacrylate methosulfate, is purified by passing same through a column of activated charcoal having a mean particle diameter of from about 0.5 mm to aboug 1.2 mm, the height to diameter ratio of the column being from about 3 to about 12 to 1. Monomer so treated can be polymerized to higher molecular weight polymers.

Abstract: (Meth)acrylic acid esters can be prepared by acid-catalyzed reaction of (meth)acrylic acid with alcohols in a water-immiscible solvent. After the esterification, the reaction mixture is washed with aqueous solutions having an alkaline reaction and then reacted at elevated temperature with carbodiimides. Acid numbers below 0.5 (mg of KOH/g of substance) are obtained in this way. (Meth)acrylic acid esters are used, for example, as reactive diluents or as comonomers.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separation of propionic acid and methacrylic acid and esterification of methacrylic acid with an aliphatic alcohol of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in presence of a suitable catalyst wherein separation and esterification is obtained with minimal polymerization of methacrylic acid.

Abstract: A batch process for preparing n-butyl methacrylate directly from n-butanol and methacrylic acid by employing azeotropic distillation and azeotropic phase separation.

Abstract: The optical resolution of an enantiomer mixture of oxycyclopentenone or a derivative thereof is conducted with a polysaccharide derivative.