Abstract: In a process and apparatus for the production of carboxylic acid esters, a liquid carboxylic acid stream is fed to an upper section of a reaction zone maintained under esterification conditions. An alcohol vapour stream is fed to a lower section of the reaction zone; allowing the carboxylic acid stream to pass in countercurrent to the alcohol stream to form a liquid product stream of product ester. A refiner stream is withdrawn from at or near the top of the reaction zone and includes unreacted alcohol, water and ether by-product. The refiner stream is passed to a refining zone and treated to reduce the water content thereof to form an ether-containing stream having a water content that is lower than that of the upper stream removed from the reaction zone. This ether-containing stream is recycled to the reaction zone.

Abstract: A process for the production of an ether optionally with a diol and/or a lactone, by reaction of a corresponding organic feed material selected from unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and/or anhydrides, mono-esters of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and/or anhydrides, diesters of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids and/or anhydrides, unsaturated lactones, and mixtures of two or more thereof in the presence of hydrogen which comprises the steps of-(a) supplying a stream comprising at least a portion of the organic feed material to a pre-reactor zone comprising catalyst and operating under reaction conditions and contacting said feed with a hydrogen containing stream such that at least some of the carbon carbon double bonds are saturated; (b) vaporising the at least partly saturated feed into the hydrogen containing stream in a vaporizing zone; (c) supplying the hydrogen-containing stream containing the vaporized at least partially saturated feed to a reaction zone comprising catalyst and operating under reaction conditi

Abstract: A process is described for the co-production of maleic anhydride and at least one C4 compound selected from butane-1,4-diol, &ggr;-butyrolactone, and tetrahydrofuran in which maleic anhydride is produced by partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon feedstock selected from C4 hydrocarbons and benzene to yield a vaporous reaction effluent stream comprising maleic anhydride, water, unconverted hydrocarbon feedstock, and carbon oxides. A part of the maleic anhydride present in the vaporous reaction effluent stream is condensed to form a crude maleic anhydride stream and leave a residual vaporous stream containing residual amounts of maleic anhydride. Further maleic anhydride is absorbed from the residual vaporous stream by absorption in an organic solvent, water or an aqueous solution. Maleic anhydride is then recovered from the loaded liquid absorptions medium.

Abstract: A process is described for the co-production of maleic anhydride and at least one C4 compound selected from butane-1,4-diol, ?-butyrolactone, and tetrahydrofuran in which maleic anhydride is produced by partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon feedstock selected from C4 hydrocarbons and benzene to yield a vaporous reaction effluent stream comprising maleic anhydride, water, unconverted hydrocarbon feedstock, and carbon oxides. A part of the maleic anhydride present in the vaporous reaction effluent stream is condensed to form a crude maleic anhydride stream and leave a residual vaporous stream containing residual amounts of maleic anhydride. Further maleic anhydride is absorbed from the residual vaporous stream by absorption in an organic solvent, water or an aqueous solution. Maleic anhydride is then recovered from the loaded liquid absorptions medium.