Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing 3,3-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone. This method includes a step of fluorinating pentachloroacetone by hydrogen fluoride in the presence of a fluorination catalyst. This fluorination may be conducted in a liquid phase in the presence of an antimony compound as the fluorination catalyst. Alternatively, the fluorination may be conducted in a gas phase in the presence of a fluorination catalyst which may be a fluorinated alumina or at least one compound of at least one metal selected from Al, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Co. The method is suited to an industrial scale production of 3,3-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone. The invention further relates to another method for producing 3,3-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone.

Abstract: A process for the purification of raw acetone deriving from processes for the production of phenol acetone, impurity mainly due to cumene, water, aldehydes and methanol, the steps of:feeding the stream of raw acetone coming from the primary fractionation of a plant for the production of phenol and acetone to a first distillation column to which a solution of sodium hydroxide at 2% is also fed;sending the stream at the head of the first column, containing of acetone, water and cumene to a second column to which the extractive solvent triethyleneglycol is also fed;recovering substantially anhydrous acetone from the head of the second column;feeding the bottom product of the second column, containing triethyleneglycol, water, cumene and acetone to a third distillation column in which an azeotropic mixture of water and cumene is recovered from the head and anhydrous triethyleneglycol from the bottom;sending the azeotropic mixture of water and cumene to a decanter in which a water phase is separated, containing ac

Abstract: Close boiling hydrocarbon impurities are separated from acetone by extractive distillation using a C.sub.9 -C.sub.14 alkane and/or a C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 aromatic hydrocarbon extractive distillation solvent.

Abstract: Acetone produced during MTBE production and containing methanol, aldehydes and other organic impurities is contacted with a solution of basic material such as NaOH in lower glycol at conditions effective to polymerize aldehyde impurities, the polymerized impurities are separated, and acetone is separated from methanol in an extractive distillation using the same lower glycol as extractive distillation agent.

Abstract: A first alkanol having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms can be separated off from other organic compounds of higher carbon number from the group comprising other alcohols, polyalcohols, ethers, oxo compounds, esters of carboxylic acids and of carbonic acid, haloaliphatics, amines, amides, hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids and nitriles, which in each case have at least 1 carbon atom more than the first alkanol, where in the case of halogenoaliphatics, halogen substituents are counted as further carbon atoms, by permeation on membranes, if a water content from 1 to 30% by weight, preferably from 5 to 15% by weight, based on the amount of mixture and water, is maintained.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a formylated aromatic compound comprising contacting an aromatic compound with (i) a halogenated compound in the presence of a Lewis acid, and (ii) a base, is described. The subject process provides an efficient and effective means of preparing formylated compounds which may be useful in a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: The present invention includes a process for removing aldehydes from acetone having aldehyde impurities comprising contacting the acetone with a sufficient amount of at least one diamine compound to react with at least a portion of the aldehyde and heating the acetone in the presence of the diamine compound sufficiently to result in reaction of the diamine compound and aldehyde, thus reducing the amount of aldehyde in the acetone. It is preferred that the process is an improvement in a process for purifying crude acetone having aldehydes therein, by fractionally distilling the acetone in a multiple plate distillation, the improvement comprising adding to the acetone a sufficient amount of at least one diamine compound to react with at least a portion of the aldehydes.

Abstract: A process for removing acetone from an acetone/methyl acetate/methyl iodide mixture utilizing extractive distillation with water being introduced to the distillation zone above the point of introduction of the mixture and acetic acid being introduced at or above the point of introduction of the mixture. In a preferred embodiment the mixture is subjected to an initial extraction with an aqueous extractant to remove most of the methyl iodide.The process is particularly applicable to removing acetone by-product in carbonylation processes for the production of acetic anhydride.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for the removal of acetone from a production system wherein acetic anhydride is produced by contacting a mixture comprising methyl iodide and methyl acetate and/or dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst or catalyst system. The process comprises two distillation steps wherein acetone is separated from a mixture of methyl acetate, methyl iodide and acetone.

Abstract: A process for separating acetone, dichloromethane and trifluoroacetic acid from a mixture of acetone, dichloromethane, and a trifluoroacetic acid/acetone azeotropeby (1) fractionally distilling the mixture of acetone, dichloromethane, and the trifluoroacetic acid/acetone azeotrope;(2) fractionally distilling the mixture of the trifluoroacetic acid/acetone azeotrope and free acetone;(3) adding at least about 16 parts of water to the trifluoroacetic acid/acetone azeotrope per 100 parts by volume of the trifluoroacetic acid/acetone azeotrope;(4) fractionally distilling the mixture of free acetone and the water/trifluoroacetic acid azeotrope;(5) adding at least about 10 parts of sulfuric acid to the water/trifluoroacetic acid azeotrope per 100 parts by volume of the water/trifluoroacetic acid azeotrope;(6) fractionally distilling the mixture of trifluoroacetic acid and the water/sulfuric acid complex.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for in-situ regeneration of particulate adsorbent in a vessel including: heating the adsorbent, passing inert gas through heated absorbent to collect vaporized adsorbate, chilling the inert gas to condense adsorbate, thereafter lowering the pressure within the vessel, collecting withdrawn gases containing volatilized adsorbate, and chilling the withdrawn gases to condense adsorbate.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for the removal of acetone from a production system wherein acetic anhydride is produced by contacting a mixture containing methyl iodide and methyl acetate and/or dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst or catalyst system. The process involves a water-methyl iodide extraction step wherein acetone is separated from a mixture of methyl acetate, methyl iodide and acetone.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the production of oxides from alkanes by reaction with oxygen, air or a gas enriched in oxygen relative to an air in the presence of an oxidation catalyst. An alkane, e.g. propane, is converted to an alkene in a multistage dehydrogenator. The product stream is withdrawn from an intermediate reactor in the dehydrogenator, other than the first and the last reactor, and introduced into an oxidation reactor. The product formed in the oxidation reactor is recovered in a conventional quench tower. The gaseous effluent from the quench tower is treated in a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit to form a gaseous stream containing the unreacted alkane and alkene as well as a minor amount, i.e. less than about 2 percent by volume, of oxygen and nitrogen, if present in the feed to the oxidation reactor.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the production of oxides from hydrocarbons by reaction with oxygen, air or a gas enriched in oxygen relative to air, preferably the latter, in the presence of an oxidation catalyst. An alkane, e.g. propane, is converted to an alkene in a dehydrogenator. The product stream is introduced into an oxidation reactor. The product formed therein is recovered in a quench tower. The gas phase from the quench tower is treated in a PSA unit to form a gaseous stream containing the unreacted alkane, alkene, a minor amount of oxygen, i.e. less than about 2 percent by volume, and nitrogen if present in the feed to the oxidation reactor. The gaseous stream, which may or may not contain hydrogen depending on the adsorbent on the PSA unit, is introduced into a selective oxidation unit to remove the remaining oxygen and then recycled to the dehydrogenator.

Abstract: An improved method for dehydration and concentration of an aqueous solution containing an organic compound is disclosed. The solution is evaporated to produce a gaseous mixture comprising an organic compound vapor and a water vapor. The water vapor is selectively removed from the gaseous mixture by permeation through an aromatic polyimide gas separation membrane while the gaseous mixture being kept in contact with a surface on one side of the gas separation membrane at a temperature of 70.degree. C. or higher to obtain a gaseous mixture comprising the organic compound vapor and a reduced amount of a water vapor.

Abstract: Acetone cannot be easily separated from benzene in high purity by distillation because of the closeness of their vapor pressures. Acetone can be readily removed from benzene by azeotropic distillation using certain aromatic hydrocarbons. Typical effective azeotropic distillation agents are: toluene, ethyl benzene and mesitylene.

Abstract: Aqueous compositions containing organic oxygenates such as methyl isobutyl ketone are treated by pervaporation through a polyvinyl alcohol/polyacrylic acid membrane to yield retentate containing increased concentration of oxygenate.

Abstract: Tischtschenko condensation of aldehydes is used to remove aldehydes from dry ketone-containing streams. The tischtschenko condensation is used to condense the aldehydes into esters whose boiling points are significantly different than the ketones, greatly simplifying the separation of the esters from the ketones. An organic extraction step is used to obtain a substantially dry ketone containing stream. One particularly preferred class of extraction solvents is selected from the group consisting of butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, decane and mixtures thereof. In particularly preferred embodiments, the Tischtschenko reaction is used in the context of aqueous-phase catalyzed olefin oxidation to ketones. The aldehyde to ester condensation permits easy and efficient removal of the aldehyde analogs of the desired ketones.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for separating and concentrating an organic component having a lower boiling point than water from an aqueous solution containing the organic component which comprises the steps of (1) bringing an aqueous solution containing an organic component having a lower boiling point than water into contact with one surface of a hydrophobic porous membrane, continuously or intermittently evacuating the side of the porous membrane opposite to the aqueous solution to obtain a concentrated vapor of the organic component, and liquefying the vapor; and (2) bringing the resulting concentrated aqueous solution into contact with one surface of a hydrophobic nonporous membrane, evacuating the side of the non-porous membrane opposite to the concentrated aqueous solution to obtain a further concentrated vapor of the organic component, and liquefying the vapor.

Abstract: This invention is a process for purifying crude acetone obtained by cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide, said crude acetone containing aldehyde impurities and appreciable amounts of unreacted cumene, by fractionally distilling the acetone in a multiple plate distillation column, said process comprising: continuously feeding crude acetone; continuously feeding a dilute aqueous solution of an alkaline material at a point above the crude acetone feed point; and controlling the temperature profile of the column by adjusting the amount of liquid acetone removed in step (c) to maintain a preselected temperature on a plate in the region between the crude acetone feed point and the alkaline material feed point.

Abstract: A method of regenerating hydrous zeolite which contains acetone as well as water after having been used to dehydrate hydrous acetone of the invention which comprises: placing the hydrous zeolite in a closed system in which a heated inert gas is circulated at a pressure more than atmospheric pressures to bring the inert gas into contact with the hydrous zeolite to remove the acetone and water from the zeolite, and condensing the acetone and water in the closed system and removes them from the closed system.The method is in particular useful for regenerating hydrous zeolite which has been used to dehydrate hydrous acetone resulting from the reaction of L-sorbose with acetone to produce diacetone-L-sorbose, and which thus contains acetone as well as about 1000-4000 ppm of water therein.

Abstract: A process for removing by product acetone from reaction mixtures obtained by reacting methyl acetate and/or dimethylether with carbon monoxide at elevated temperatures to obtain acetic anhydride in the presence of a catalyst system consisting essentially of carbonyl complexes of noble metals belonging to group VIII of the Periodic System of the elements, acetic acid, an organophosphorus or organonitrogen compound, and methyl iodide whereby the acetone obtained as a by-product during the reaction is subjected to condensation at temperatures of 50.degree. to 250.degree. C., under pressures of 0.01 to 150 bars and at a molar ratio as above defined for the catalyst system constituent of 1:(25-500):(10-100):(15-150) so as to obtain predominantly higher-boiling secondary products to be distillatively separated in a successive distillation zone together with volatile constituents of the catalyst system.

Abstract: A process for forming a purified solute from an aqueous solution is provided whereby a mixture of an extractant, a hydrate former and the aqueous solution is first formed. The hydrate former forms a hydrate with water while the solute does not form a hydrate. The extractant takes up the solute from the aqueous solution. The mixture is subjected to a temperature and pressure sufficient to form the solid hydrate of the hydrate former, an aqueous solution of the solute and a portion comprising the extractant containing the solute. The solute is recovered from the portion comprising the extractant and the solute.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention there is a process for reducing the water content of acetone prepared from cumene which includes the steps ofa. adding cleaving effective catalytic quantities of sulfuric acid to a mixture comprising cumene hydroperoxide and cumene, the cumene hydroperoxide making up about 81 to 83 weight percent of the said mixture, thereby producing a mixture comprising phenol, acetone, cumene and sulfuric acid;b. neutralizing the said sulfuric acid with an aqueous alkali hydroxide and separating the alkali metal sulfate from the mixture comprising phenol, acetone, water and cumene, the water being from about 40 to 60 weight percent of the total weight of water and cumene, the cumene being present in sufficient quantities to cause the formation of two liquid phases upon condensing the acetone fraction distillate;c. separating by distillation the acetone fraction from the phenol fraction, said acetone fraction containing acetone, water, aldehyde, and other organics including cumene;d.

Abstract: Acetone cannot be completely removed from acetone-methanol mixtures by distillation because of the presence of the minimum boiling azeotrope. Acetone can be readily separated from methanol by using extractive distillation in which the extractive agent is dimethylformamide, either alone or admixed with other compounds. Typical examples of effective agents are: dimethylformamide; dimethylformamide and diethylene glycol; dimethyl formamide, glycerine and propylene glycol.

Abstract: A fluorinated carbonyl compound ##STR1## where x is 2 or 3 and A represents CF.sub.3 or H, coexisting with hydrogen fluoride in a mixed gas is purified by first adjusting the temperature of the mixed gas to 100.degree.-300.degree. C. to cause decomposition of a usually coexisting complex of the fluorinated compound with HF and then bringing the hot mixed gas into contact with concentrated sulfuric acid maintained at 10.degree.-40.degree. C. Almost the entire amount of HF is absorbed in sulfuric acid and subsequently recovered, while the purified compound neither dissolves in sulfuric acid nor reacts with HF present in sulfuric acid.

Abstract: Acetone cannot be completely removed from acetone-methanol mixtures by distillation because of the presence of the minimum boiling azeotrope. Acetone can be readily separated from methanol by using extractive distillation in which the extractive agent is a higher boiling oxygenated, nitrogenous and/or sulfur-containing organic compound or a mixture of two or more of these. Typical examples of effective agents are: Glycerine, 1,5-Pentanediol, Dimethylsulfoxide, n-Hexanol, Dioctyl phthalate and N,N-Dimethylacetamide.

Abstract: A process is presented for extracting polar organic compounds, in particular lower aliphatic alcohols, out of their aqueous solutions, which is based on the use of fluids which contain a significant amount of polyoxaalkanols, polyoxaalkanediols and/or polyoxaalkanepolyols. These compounds, by virtue of their high molar masses, their low solubility in water and their good affinity for polar organic compounds, are particularly suitable for use as extractants.

Abstract: Isopropyl ether cannot be completely removed from isopropyl ether-acetone mixtures by distillation because of the presence of the minimum binary azeotrope. Isopropyl ether can be readily removed from mixtures containing it and acetone by using extractive distillation in which the extractive distillation agent is a higher boiling oxygenated, nitrogenous and/or sulfur containing compound or a mixture of these. Typical examples of effective agents are: dimethylsulfoxide; sulfolane and propylene glycol; adiponitrile, glycerine and ethylene glycol.

Abstract: Crude hexafluoroacetone (HFA) hydrate containing chlorofluoroacetone(s) hydrate(s) as impurity is purified by adding an alkali metal hydroxide and maintaining at an elevated temperature, preferably at 100.degree.-110.degree. C., to thereby cause decomposition reaction of every chlorofluoroacetone hydrate with the alkali metal hydroxide, followed by neutralization of an excess portion of the alkali metal hydroxide. Alkali metal hydroxides, which readily react with anhydrous HFA, react preferentially with chlorofluoroacetone hydrates but hardly react with coexisting HFA hydrate.

Abstract: Methanol cannot be completely removed from its mixture with acetone by distillation because of the presence of the minimum binary azeotrope. Methanol can be readily removed from mixtures containing it and acetone by using extractive distillation to bring off the methanol as overhead product in a rectification column by using extractive distillation in which the extractive distillation agent is an effective higher boiling organic compound or a mixture of these. Typical examples of effective agents are acetophenone, 3-pentanone, 2,4-pentanedione, ethylacetoacetate, 2-butanone plus benzil.

Abstract: Crude hexafluoroacetone containing as impurities nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide is purified by admixing with water to form an aqueous solution, admixing the aqueous solution with concentrated sulfuric acid or oleum to form a vapor and scrubbing the vapor with liquid concentrated sulfuric acid to produce purified anhydrous hexafluoroacetone. The sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides interact with the aqueous solution and concentrated sulfuric acid so as not to be found in the purified product, thus obviating the need for a neutralization step.

Abstract: An oxygenated organic compound, such as ethanol, is recovered from a dilute aqueous stream thereof by contacting said stream with crosslinked polyvinylpyridine resin or nuclear substituted derivative thereof to effect selective sorption of the compound by said resin. The sorbed compound is thereafter removed from the resin by stripping with an inert gas such as carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A thermally efficient process for recovering an oxygenated organic material, such as ethanol, present in dilute aqueous solution is disclosed which comprises contacting said dilute aqueous solution with at least one inert extractant which is liquid at ambient temperature and pressure, said extractant being selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted and substituted cyclic secondary amines and unsubstituted and substituted aromatic cyclic amines having a distribution coefficient of at least about 0.70 or a separation factor of at least about 1.0.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for separating acetone from reaction mixtures originating from the reaction of methyl acetate and/or dimethylether with carbon monoxide and optionally hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of carbonyl complexes of noble metals of group VIII of the Periodic System of the elements, acetic acid, an organophosphorus or organonitrogen compound, methyl iodide and optionally carbonyl-yielding compounds of common metals.

Abstract: Crude hexafluoroacetone (HFA) containing chlorofluoroacetone(s) (CFA) as well as hydrogen halide(s) is purified by initially allowing the crude HFA to be absorbed in water to give an aqueous solution in which HFA and CFA are in the form of their respective hydrates, adding a calcium compound such as carbonate, hydroxide or oxide to the solution to neutralize the hydrogen halide(s), and decomposing the hydrated CFA by first adding an alkali metal compound such as K.sub.2 CO.sub.3 or Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 or an alkaline earth metal compound such as Ca(OH).sub.2, Ba(OH).sub.2, CaO or BaO to the solution and subsequently adding a mineral acid such as HCl or H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 to the same solution. This procedure results in complete decomposition of CFA without causing decomposition of HFA and spontaneous separation of the liquid reaction system into two layers, one of which is exclusively HFA hydrate. Accordingly it is easy to separate pure HFA hydrate from the decomposed impurities.

Abstract: Acetone having a markedly low content of aldehydes is recovered from an aqueous rectification residue brought about by rectification of crude acetone carried out after one crude acetone having been alkali-treated or while an alkali or an aqueous solution thereof being added to the crude acetone, by mixing the aqueous rectification residue with an alkali, neutralizing the mixture to a pH of 4 to 9, and then subjecting the resulting mixture to distillation to obtain acetone as a distillate.

Abstract: In a process for recovering a purified ketone substantially free from aldehydes which comprises contacting a crude ketone containing small amounts of aldehydes with an alkali and then distilling the treated crude ketone, the improvement wherein said alkali is a solid alkali composition composed of an alkali metal compound selected from alkali metal oxides and hydroxides, an alkaline earth metal compound selected from alkaline earth metal oxides and hydroxides and silicon dioxide in which the mole ratio of the alkali metal to the alkaline earth metal is in the range of from 1:1 to 1:15, and the mole ratio of the alkali metal to silicon is in the range of from 1:0.25 to 1:5.

Abstract: An apparatus and process useful in direct fluorination of a variety of compositions, as well as the fluorinated compositions themselves, are disclosed.The apparatus comprises a cryogenic zone reactor, such as a packed column reactor, suitably divided into a plurality of independently controllable cryogenic temperature zones. Means are also provided to introduce a reactant to be fluorinated as well as to introduce a mixture of fluorine gas and an inert gas.New fluorinated compounds are also disclosed. These include: perfluoro-2-methoxyethyl ether; perfluoro-1,4-dioxane; perfluoro-2,5-diketohexane; perfluorohexamethylethane; and monohydropentadecafluoroadamantane.Additionally, new syntheses for trifluoroacetic acid, a commercially significant bulk chemical, are disclosed. One synthesis comprises producing perfluoroethyl acetate by direct fluorination using a cryogenic zone reactor, followed by hydrolysis of perfluoroethyl acetate. Two moles of the acid are produced for each mole of ester.

Abstract: Acetone produced as a by-product in the reaction of methyl acetate with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a Group VIII noble metal catalyst and methyl iodide is recovered from the reaction mixture by supplying acetone to provide an acetone to methyl iodide molar ratio of at least 1:10 and distilling the mixture comprising methyl iodide, acetone and methyl acetate to separate substantially all of the methyl iodide and the supplied acetone and some of the methyl acetate from the remaining acetone and methyl acetate and thereafter separating the acetone from the methyl acetate.

Abstract: Symmetrical 1,3-dichloroacetone is prepared by contacting chlorine with an aqueous mixture of acetone, monochloroacetone, or mixtures thereof and an iodine-containing promoter.

Abstract: A process for purifying an aldehyde-containing ketone, which comprises catalytically hydrogenating a crude ketone containing minor amounts of aliphatic aldehydes at a temperature of from room temperature to about 100.degree. C. and a pressure of from atmospheric pressure to 10 kg/cm.sup.2 .multidot.G, in the presence of hydrogen, a palladium-containing catalyst, and about 0.4 to about 15% by weight, based on the weight of the crude ketone, of an active hydrogen-containing compound having a higher boiling point than the ketone which is selected from the group consisting of water, aliphatic alcohols containing 3 to 7 carbon atoms, aliphatic carboxylic acids containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alicyclic alcohols containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms and alkylamines having an alkyl or cycloalkyl group containing 5 to 9 carbon atoms; distilling the hydrogenated product; and recovering a fraction containing the ketone.

Abstract: A process for separating the constituents of azeotropic mixtures of acetone and other lower ketones from lower halogenated hydrocarbons. Water is added to the azeotropic mixture of acetone and the lower halogenated hydrocarbon for breaking up of the azeotrope, and the halogenated halohydrocarbon is distilled off.