Abstract: A process is provided for the continuous separation of slightly volatile components from a crude phthalic acid anhydride wherein a portion of the crude phthalic acid anhydride is compressed and heated before being reintroduced into a flash evaporator.

Abstract: In a process for the production of phthalic anhydride comprising a stage of catalytic oxidation of a mixture of o-xylene or naphthalene and air, a stage of separation of the crude phthalic anhydride from the reaction gas by cooling, and a stage of purification of the crude phthalic anhydride by rectification under vacuum, said vacuum being maintained by at least one jet pump, the improvement which comprises employing compressed air as the operating medium for said jet pump, and recycling resultant compressed air loaded with the exhaust gas to a process gas upstream of the phthalic anhydride separation stage, said process gas being any gas leading to the separation stage, preferably the gas between the oxidation stage and the separation stage.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the recovery and storage of maleic anhydride from maleic anhydride-containing gases. Such gases are scrubbed with a water or maleic acid scrubbing solution in a scrubbing zone to form a maleic acid-containing solution. This maleic acid-containing solution is then concentrated and dehydrated in an evaporation zone and a dehydration zone, respectively, to form maleic anhydride. The maleic anhydride so formed is then purified by distillation in a distillation zone. The evaporation, dehydration, and distillation steps are all carried out under a vacuum maintained by withdrawing gases containing organic and water vapor from said evaporation, dehydration and distillation zones using jet pumps propelled by pressurized air. The vapor-containing gases so removed are admixed with the pressurized air pump propellant streams, and this mixture is then introduced into the scrubbing zone for the maleic anhydride-containing gases.