Abstract: A method for preparing a mixture (M) comprising at least an alcohol (Aj), said method comprising the following steps: i) a step in which at least an alcohol (Ai) in gaseous state is oligomerized, thereby producing a mixture (A); ii) a step in which the mixture (A) is condensed to a gaseous stream and to a liquid stream corresponding to a condensed mixture (A); and iii) a step in which the condensed mixture (A) is hydrogenated in the liquid state.

Abstract: A method for preparing a mixture (M) including at least one alcohol (Aj), wherein said method includes a gas-phase oligomerization reaction of at least one alcohol (Ai) with a solid acid-base catalyst doped with one or more metals, said reaction being carried out in the presence of hydrogen and at a temperature of no less than 50° C. and strictly less than 200° C.

Abstract: A method for preparing a mixture (M) comprising at least an alcohol (Aj), said method comprising the following steps: i) a step in which at least an alcohol (Ai) in gaseous state is oligomerized, thereby producing a mixture (A); ii) a step in which the mixture (A) is condensed to a gaseous stream and to a liquid stream corresponding to a condensed mixture (A); and iii) a step in which the condensed mixture (A) is hydrogenated in the liquid state.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of compounds comprising nitrile or nitro functional groups to amine, aminonitrile or aminonitro compounds is provided. The process can be a continuous process conducted in the presence of a heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst in divided form and a basic compound. The reaction can be conducted in a stirred reactor comprising an external loop for circulating the reaction mixture, allowing one portion of the hydrogenated products to be separated without withdrawing the catalyst, by using tangential filtration. The process may be especially useful in the hydrogenation of adiponitrile to an aminocapronitrile/hexamethylenediamine mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation of compounds comprising nitrile or nitro functional groups to amine, aminonitrile or aminonitro compounds. The invention provides a continuous process for the hydrogenation of compounds comprising nitrile or nitro functional groups to amine or aminonitrile compounds in the presence of a heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst in divided form and of a basic compound. The reaction is employed in a stirred reactor comprising an external loop for circulating the reaction mixture, allowing one portion of the hydrogenated products to be separated without withdrawing the catalyst, by using tangential filtration. The process of the invention applies especially to the hydrogenation of adiponitrile to an aminocapronitrile/hexamethylenediamine mixture.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for evaporating aminonitrile and water in conditions limiting or eliminating the formation of heavy by-products in particular amino-carboxylic acid oligomers. To avoid said inconvenience, said method for evaporating aminonitrile and water is characterised in that the water in vapour state serves as balance gas for evaporation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating the water from an aqueous lactam solution. It applies more particularly to a mixture resulting from the reaction between an aminonitrile and water (this reaction also being called cyclizing hydrolysis). The subject of the invention is a process for separating the water from an aqueous lactam solution, which process is economical both from the standpoint of the investment necessary for its implementation and from the standpoint of the operating cost.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for distilling ammonia from a mixture, more particular from a mixture resulting from the reaction between aminonitrile and water (which reaction is also called cyclizing hydrolysis). The process for distilling the ammonia contained in an aqueous caprolactam solution, uses a column with a bottom temperature less than or equal to 160° C. and at an absolute pressure less than or equal to 5 bar, the ammonia distilled at the top of the column being compressed to a pressure greater than or equal to 10 bar and then condensed at a temperature of 25° C. to 60° C.