Abstract: A process for recovering monomers and solvent present in a waste stream including the steps of: (a) providing a waste feed stream containing monomers, solvent and impurities; (b) subjecting the waste feed stream of step (a) to a separation process under conditions for separating the monomers and solvent from the impurities of the waste stream; (c) recovering the monomers and solvent in one or more streams; and (d) passing the one or more of the monomer and solvent streams from step (c) to further processing.

Abstract: A process for purifying methyl methacrylate. The method comprises: (a) feeding a product mixture comprising methyl methacrylate, methanol, water and oligomers of methyl methacrylate to a divided section of a distillation column comprising a dividing wall; (b) removing an overhead stream and a bottoms stream from the distillation column, and removing a middle side draw stream from the distillation column; wherein the crude product enters the dividing wall distillation column in a divided section on an opposing side of the dividing wall from the middle side draw stream; and (c) removing an upper side draw stream from a point above the dividing wall and below the top of the distillation column, separating a portion of water from the upper side draw stream to produce a dewatered upper side draw stream and returning the dewatered upper side draw stream to the distillation column.

Abstract: A process for purifying methyl methacrylate. The method comprises: (a) feeding a product mixture comprising methyl methacrylate, methanol, water and oligomers of methyl methacrylate to a divided section of a distillation column comprising a dividing wall; (b) removing an overhead stream and a bottoms stream from the distillation column, and removing a middle side draw stream from the distillation column; wherein the crude product enters the dividing wall distillation column in a divided section on an opposing side of the dividing wall from the middle side draw stream; and (c) removing an upper side draw stream from a point above the dividing wall and below the top of the distillation column, separating a portion of water from the upper side draw stream to produce a dewatered upper side draw stream and returning the dewatered upper side draw stream to the distillation column.

Abstract: A continuous process comprising a) separating an epoxy novolac resin comprising oligomers having an average functionality of greater than 2.

Abstract: A continuous process comprising: a) separating a starting epoxy novolac resin comprising oligomers having an average functionality of greater than 2.5 and a hydrolyzable chlorine content of less than 450 ppm with a first continuous evaporator apparatus under a vaporization temperature in the range of from 150° C. to 250° C. and an absolute pressure of from 0.05 to 1 mmHg absolute to form a first vapor fraction comprising epoxy novolac resin having more than 95 weight percent of 2-functional components and wherein the mass of the first vapor fraction is in the range of from 5 to 20 weight percent of the starting epoxy novolac resin; and a first bottom fraction comprising epoxy novolac resin having a lower weight percent of 2-functional components in comparison with the weight percent of 2-functional components of the starting epoxy novolac resin; b) recovering the first bottom fraction; and c) condensing from 95 weight percent to 99.

Abstract: A continuous process comprising a) separating an epoxy novolac resin comprising oligomers having an average functionality of greater than 2.

Abstract: A continuous process comprising: a) separating a starting epoxy novolac resin comprising oligomers having an average functionality of greater than 2.5 and a hydrolyzable chlorine content of less than 450 ppm with a first continuous evaporator apparatus under a vaporization temperature in the range of from 150° C. to 250° C. and an absolute pressure of from 0.05 to 1 mmHg absolute to form a first vapor fraction comprising epoxy novolac resin having more than 95 weight percent of 2-functional components and wherein the mass of the first vapor fraction is in the range of from 5 to 20 weight percent of the starting epoxy novolac resin; and a first bottom fraction comprising epoxy novolac resin having a lower weight percent of 2-functional components in comparison with the weight percent of 2-functional components of the starting epoxy novolac resin; b) recovering the first bottom fraction; and c) condensing from 95 weight percent to 99.

Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing a diaryl ether compound through the dehydration of an aromatic alcohol compound in the presence of a halogenated rare earth element oxide catalyst, wherein the used dehydration catalyst may be regenerated by a halogenation step. The rare earth element oxide is an oxide of a light rare earth element, an oxide of a medium rare earth element, an oxide of a heavy rare earth element, an oxide of yttrium, or a mixtures of two or more thereof.

Abstract: A process for recovering a divinylarene dioxide from a crude feed stream comprising the steps of: (a) providing an effluent reaction stream containing at least one divinylarene dioxide product and other compounds; and (b) separating/recovering the divinylarene dioxide product from the other compounds of the reaction effluent from step (a); wherein the percent recovery of the divinylarene dioxide product recovered comprises greater than about 85 percent; and wherein the percent purity of the divinylarene dioxide product recovered comprises greater than about 85 percent.

Abstract: A process for recovering a divinylarene dioxide from a crude feed stream comprising the steps of: (a) providing an effluent reaction stream containing at least one divinylarene dioxide product and other compounds; and (b) separating/recovering the divinylarene dioxide product from the other compounds of the reaction effluent from step (a); wherein the percent recovery of the divinylarene dioxide product recovered comprises greater than about 85 percent; and wherein the percent purity of the divinylarene dioxide product recovered comprises greater than about 85 percent.

Abstract: The present invention a process and apparatus for the production of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) isomer mixtures with a low 2,2?-MDI isomer content and a high 2,4?-MDI isomer content. The resulting mixtures have an increased reactivity and are acceptable in food grade application due to the reduction in primary aromatic amines formed during the curing process. The process and apparatus also include controlling the amount of 4,4?-MDI, which is the most reactive isomer in the mixture allowing use in a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: The process for the distillation of a gas mixture comprising (meth)acrylic acid obtained from the gas-phase oxidation of at least one (meth)acrylic acid precursors is improved through the use of coupled distillation columns. In a first column, the gaseous mixture is dehydrated while in a second column, the dehydrated gaseous mixture is distilled into product, overhead and bottoms streams.

Abstract: The present invention a process and apparatus for the production of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) isomer mixtures with a low 2,2?-MDI isomer content and a high 2,4?-MDI isomer content. The resulting mixtures have an increased reactivity and are acceptable in food grade application due to the reduction in primary aromatic amines formed during the curing process. The process and apparatus also include controlling the amount of 4,4?-MDI, which is the most reactive isomer in the mixture allowing use in a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: The process for the distillation of a gas mixture comprising (meth)acrylic acid obtained from the gas-phase oxidation of at least one (meth)acrylic acid precursors is improved through the use of coupled distillation columns. In a first column, the gaseous mixture is dehydrated while in a second column, the dehydrated gaseous mixture is distilled into product, overhead and bottoms streams.

Abstract: The process for the distillation of a gas mixture comprising (meth)acrylic acid obtained from the gas-phase oxidation of at least one (meth)acrylic acid precursors is improved through the use of coupled distillation columns. In a first column, the gaseous mixture is dehydrated while in a second column, the dehydrated gaseous mixture is distilled into product, overhead and bottoms streams.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for simplifying manufacture of a mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate product from synthesis gas. The mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate product contains ethanol and other oxygenates with two or more carbon atoms per molecule. The method includes stripping a portion of carbon dioxide and inert gases contained in a mixed alcohol synthesis reaction product using a methanol-containing stream, such as one produced as part of the method, as a medium to absorb said carbon dioxide and inert gases and recycling light products and heavy products to one or more of synthesis gas generation, mixed alcohol synthesis and separation of desired mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate products from other components of a mixed alcohol synthesis stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus comprising a co-current absorbing unit, a countercurrent absorbing unit, at least one absorbing liquid reservoir, and at least one liquid transferring means. The invention also relates to a method of absorbing a reactive gas and a method of preparing a solution by contacting a reactive gas to a solvent and allowing the reactive gas to react with the solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for simplifying manufacture of a mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate product from synthesis gas. The mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate product contains ethanol and other oxygenates with two or more carbon atoms per molecule. The method includes stripping a portion of carbon dioxide and inert gases contained in a mixed alcohol synthesis reaction product using a methanol-containing stream, such as one produced as part of the method, as a medium to absorb said carbon dioxide and inert gases and recycling light products and heavy products to one or more of synthesis gas generation, mixed alcohol synthesis and separation of desired mixed alcohol or mixed oxygenate products from other components of a mixed alcohol synthesis stream.

Abstract: The process for the distillation of a gas mixture comprising (meth)acrylic acid obtained from the gas-phase oxidation of at least one (meth)acrylic acid precursors is improved through the use of coupled distillation columns. In a first column, the gaseous mixture is dehydrated while in a second column, the dehydrated gaseous mixture is distilled into product, overhead and bottoms streams.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus comprising a co-current absorbing unit, a countercurrent absorbing unit, at least one absorbing liquid reservoir, and at least one liquid transferring means. The invention also relates to a method of absorbing a reactive gas and a method of preparing a solution by contacting a reactive gas to a solvent and allowing the reactive gas to react with the solvent.