Abstract: A process the production of a crude liquid lignin oil (CLO), the process includes the steps of providing a lignin-rich solid feedstock and subjecting the lignin-rich solid feedstock to a treatment in a polar organic solvent in the absence of an effective amount of added reaction promoter, such as a heterogeneous and/or homogeneous catalyst and/or hydrogen, and providing a lignin composition, the treatment includes a step of contacting the lignin-rich solid feedstock with a polar organic solvent under operating conditions of an operating temperature up to 210° C., an operating pressure lower than 50 bar and a residence time up to 240 minutes, wherein the ratio (w/v) of lignin (in lignin-rich feedstock) to polar organic solvent ranges between 1:1.5 and 1:15, or between 1:2 and 1:10 or between 1:2 and 1:5.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a lactam in a continuous process, comprising forming the lactam and ammonium sulphate by contacting a lactam sulphate contained in an acidic liquid with ammonia, during which forming of lactam heat of reaction is generated, which heat is partially or fully recovered, wherein ammonia is brought into contact with the acidic liquid as part of a liquid aqueous ammonia solution, and wherein the contacting takes place at a temperature of at least 120° C., and wherein the average residence time at a temperature of at least 120° C. is at most 15 minutes, and wherein the ammonium sulphate remains dissolved in a liquid phase during said residence time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for converting ammonium formed in a hydroxylamine phosphate oxime process into molecular nitrogen in an ammonium destruction zone, comprising—preparing a vapour stream comprising nitrogen oxide from ammonia, in an ammonia combustion zone;—bringing into contact by feeding to the ammonium destruction zone, individually and/or as pre-mixed combinations, at least part of said vapour stream, and a first liquid stream, comprising ammonium formed in the hydroxylamine phosphate oxime process, and a second liquid stream, comprising at least one acid selected from nitric acid and nitrous acid in a total nitric+nitrous acid concentration of at least 30 wt. %, thereby forming in the ammonium destruction zone a fluid mixture; and—reacting ammonium ions in the fluid mixture with nitrogen oxide under formation of molecular nitrogen, in the ammonium destruction zone. The invention further relates to an installation for converting ammonium formed in a hydroxylamine phosphate oxime process.

Abstract: Process and equipment for the continuous production of hydroxyl ammonium by reduction of nitrate ions or nitrogen oxides with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst whereby the hydroxyl ammonium is produced in 2 or more parallel placed hydroxyl ammonium production units which process is optionally part of a process for the production of cyclohexanone oxime in which an inorganic process liquid is cycled from a hydroxyl ammonium synthesis zone (A) to a cyclohexanone oxime synthesis zone (B) and back to the hydroxyl ammonium synthesis zone for example through an extraction zone (C) and a nitric acid production zone (D), in which hydroxyl ammonium synthesis zone hydroxyl ammonium is formed by reduction of nitrate ions or nitrogen oxides with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, and in which cyclohexanone oxime synthesis zone hydroxyl ammonium is reacted with cyclohexanone to form cyclohexanone oxime.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for mixing a first acidic aqueous solution comprising hydroxylammonium and phosphate with a second acidic aqueous solution comprising nitric acid at a temperature between 20 and 80° C. resulting in a third acidic aqueous solution comprising hydroxylammonium, phosphate and nitric acid, wherein in the third acidic aqueous solution the total acid concentration minus the phosphate concentration is lower than 0.523*In([hydroxylammonium]/1.25)+422/(T+81) whereby [hydroxylammonium] is the concentration of hydroxylammonium in the third acidic aqueous solution, T is the temperature of the third acidic aqueous solution expressed in ° C. and all concentrations are expressed in mol/l.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating an organic solution comprising cyclohexanone oxime, cyclohexanone and an organic solvent, said process comprising distilling the organic solution such as to obtain (i) a first product comprising organic solvent, (ii) a second product comprising cyclohexanone and (iii) a third product comprising cyclohexanone oxime; and feeding the second product to a cyclohexanone oxime synthesis zone in which hydroxylammonium is reacted with cyclohexanone to form cyclohexanone oxime.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing succinonitrile by contacting acrylonitrile (ACN) with hydrocyanic acid (HCN) in a reactor in the presence of a tertiary amine. The invention also relates to the use of succinonitrile prepared according to the process of the invention, for preparing diaminobutane. Succinonitrile is prepared by contacting ACN with HCN in the presence of a tertiary amine and a compound chosen from the group consisting of water, aliphatic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, carboxylic acids and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing nitric acid by treating an aqueous medium containing organic compounds and phosphate, said process comprising: feeding the aqueous medium to a nitric acid synthesis zone; forming nitric acid by contacting the aqueous medium with a gaseous medium in said nitric acid synthesis zone, said gaseous medium containing NO2; discharging an off-gas from said nitric acid synthesis zone; wherein the total organic carbon concentration in the aqueous medium entering the nitric acid synthesis zone is less than 0.03 wt. %.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing succinonitrile by contacting acrylonitrile (ACN) with hydrocyanic acid (HCN) in a reactor in the presence of a tertiary amine. The invention also relates to the use of succinonitrile prepared according to the process of the invention, for preparing diaminobutane. Succinonitrile is prepared by contacting ACN with HCN in the presence of a tertiary amine and a compound chosen from the group consisting of water, aliphatic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, carboxylic acids and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for mixing a first acidic aqueous solution comprising hydroxylammonium and phosphate with a second acidic aqueous solution comprising nitric acid at a temperature between 20 and 80° C. resulting in a third acidic aqueous solution comprising hydroxylammonium, phosphate and nitric acid, wherein in the third acidic aqueous solution the total acid concentration minus the phosphate concentration is lower than 0.523*ln([hydroxylammonium]/1.25)+422/(T+81) whereby [hydroxylammonium] is the concentration of hydroxylammonium in the third acidic aqueous solution, T is the temperature of the third acidic aqueous solution expressed in ° C. and all concentrations are expressed in mol/l.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating an organic solution comprising cyclohexanone oxime, cyclohexanone and an organic solvent, said process comprising distilling the organic solution such as to obtain (i) a first product comprising organic solvent, (ii) a second product comprising cyclohexanone and (iii) a third product comprising cyclohexanone oxime; and feeding the second product to a cyclohexanone oxime synthesis zone in which hydroxylammonium is reacted with cyclohexanone to form cyclohexanone oxime.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing nitric acid by treating an aqueous medium containing organic compounds and phosphate, said process comprising: feeding the aqueous medium to a nitric acid synthesis zone; forming nitric acid by contacting the aqueous medium with a gaseous medium in said nitric acid synthesis zone, said gaseous medium containing NO2?; discharging an off-gas from said nitric acid synthesis zone; wherein the total organic carbon concentration in the aqueous medium entering the nitric acid synthesis zone is less than 0.03 wt. %.