Abstract: A process is described for purifying lactams, in particular the lactams obtained by cyclizing hydrolysis of an aminoalkylnitrile, and more particularly to the purification by crystallization of ?-caprolactam obtained by cyclizing hydrolysis of aminocapronitrile. This crystallization is carried out on the cyclization reaction medium after hydrogenation, removal of volatile compounds, and treatment with an ion-exchange resin.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for hydrocyanating ethylenically unsaturated organic compounds to compounds containing at least one nitrile function. It relates more particularly to the hydrocyanation of diolefins such as butadiene or of substituted olefins such as alkenenitriles, for instance pentenenitriles. According to the process of the invention the reaction is implemented in the presence of a metal complex catalyst comprising a transition metal such as nickel and an organic ligand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing carboxylic acids. It relates more particularly to a process for producing carboxylic acids by oxidation of a hydrocarbon with oxygen or a gas containing oxygen, and even more particularly to the oxidation of cyclohexane to adipic acid. It relates to a process comprising a step consisting of hydrolysis of the esters formed during the oxidation step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of compounds comprising two nitrile functional groups. It relates more particularly to a process for the manufacture of dinitrile compounds from compounds comprising a nitrile functional group and an ethylenic unsaturation in the presence of a catalytic system comprising an organometallic complex and a cocatalyst of the Lewis acid type. The process of the invention comprises a stage of treatment of the reaction medium resulting from the hydrocyanation which makes it possible to extract and recover the metal element of the Lewis acid.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for hydrocyanation of ethylenically unsaturated organic compounds into compounds comprising at least a nitrile function. More particularly, it concerns a method for hydrocyanation of organic compounds comprising at least a ethylenical bond by reacting hydrogen cyanide, in the presence of a catalytic system comprising a transition metal and an organophosphorus ligand. The organophosphorus ligand is a compound with monophosphanorbornadiene structure. The invention concerns in particular hydrocyanation of butadiene into adiponitrile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of hydrocyanation of ethylenically unsaturated organic compounds to compounds having at least one nitrile function, particularly the hydrocyanation of diolefins such as butadiene, or of substituted olefins such as alkene nitrites such as pentenenitriles; the subject hydrocyanation is carried out in the presence of a catalytic system comprising a metallic element and mono- and pluri-dentate organophosphorus ligands.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of ?- or ?-unsaturated or saturated carboxylic acids. It relates more particularly to the hydroxycarbonylation of an organic compound comprising a conjugated unsaturation, such as butadiene, by the action of carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a palladium-based catalyst. The carboxylic acids thus obtained are preferably pentenoic acids. According to the invention, the reaction medium after the end of the hydroxycarbonylation stage is treated with hydrogen to reduce the palladium present in the 2+ oxidation state to palladium in the zero oxidation state and the precipitated palladium is recovered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation of nitrile functional groups to amine functional groups. It relates more particularly to a process for the complete or partial hydrogenation of dinitrile compounds to diamine or aminonitrile compounds. The invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation of nitrile functional groups to amine functional groups using hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and of a strong inorganic base preferably deriving from an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal. According to the invention, the process comprises a stage of conditioning the catalyst which consists in mixing the hydrogenation catalyst, a predetermined amount of strong inorganic base and a solvent in which the strong inorganic base is not very soluble. This solvent is an amine compound, such as hexamethylenediamine in the case of the hydrogenation of adiponitrile to HMD and/or aminocapronitrile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the oxidation, by means of oxygen or a gas containing it, of hydrocarbons to the corresponding carboxylic acids, alcohols and/or ketones or of alcohols and/or ketones to the corresponding carboxylic acids. It consists more precisely in a process for oxidizing hydrocarbon, alcohol and/or ketone, using oxygen or a gas containing it, in liquid phase and in the presence of a catalyst dissolved in the reaction medium, characterized in that the catalyst comprises a soluble manganese compound and at least one soluble chromium compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of hydrocyanation of ethylenically unsaturated organic compounds to compounds having at least one nitrile function, particularly the hydrocyanation of diolefins such as butadiene, or of substituted olefins such as alkene nitrites such as pentenenitriles; the subject hydrocyanation is carried out in the presence of a catalytic system comprising a metallic element and mono- and pluri-dentate organophosphorus ligands.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of purifying aqueous effluents containing in particular peroxidized compounds. It relates more particularly to a method of purifying aqueous effluents comprising a method of anaerobic biological decomposition of the compounds contained in the effluent. The effluents are treated prior to their anaerobic biological decomposition, in a deperoxidation step in order to reduce the concentration of peroxide and to avoid the harmful effect of these compounds on the enzymes or bacteria.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a mixture of alcohols/ketones by decomposing an alkyl hydroperoxide, particularly to a method for producing a cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone by decomposing cyclohexyl hydroperoxide in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst. According to the invention, the reaction is carried out in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst containing an organometallic segment fixed on the surface of a porous solid compound such as silicon. The organometallic segment can be formula (I).

Abstract: A process is provided for the hemihydrogenation of dinitriles to corresponding aminonitriles using hydrogen in the presence of a supported catalyst. The supported catalyst comprises ruthenium supported on a carbon black, called acetylene black, resulting from the pyrolysis of paraffin oils.

Abstract: Lactam liquid media of reaction which comprise at least one lactam final product, notably &egr;-caprolactam, are treated and purified to convert impurities contained therein into harmless species or species easily removed downstream, by hydrogenating such liquid media of reaction in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and during which hydrogenation the liquid media of reaction have effective lactam-purifying amounts of ammonia dissolved therein.