Abstract: The invention relates to the field of production of lactams from aminonitriles, and in particular to the production of ?-caprolactam by the vapor phase hydrolytic cyclization of 6-aminocapronitrile. A crude liquid caprolactam comprising ?-caprolactarn (CL), 6-aminocapronitrile (ACN) and water obtained from a vapor phase cyclization reaction of ACN is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to convert the ACN in the crude liquid caprolactam to a product comprising hexamethylenediamine (HMD) and hexamethyleneimine (HMI). Tetrahydroazepine (THA) in the crude liquid caprolactam is converted to HMI during this hydrogenation. The HMD and HMI have lower boiling points compared to ACN and thus they are more easily separated from CL in the subsequent distillation operations. Thus a process to make CL from ACN with fewer distillation stages, and with lower pressure drop and lower base temperature, is accomplished.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of production of lactams from aminonitriles, and in particular to the production of ?-caprolactam by the vapor phase hydrolytic cyclization of 6-aminocapronitrile. A crude liquid caprolactam comprising ?-caprolactarn (CL), 6-aminocapronitrile (ACN) and water obtained from a vapor phase cyclization reaction of ACN is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to convert the ACN in the crude liquid caprolactam to a product comprising hexamethylenediamine (HMD) and hexamethyleneimine (HMI). Tetrahydroazepine (THA) in the crude liquid caprolactam is converted to HMI during this hydrogenation. The HMD and HMI have lower boiling points compared to ACN and thus they are more easily separated from CL in the subsequent distillation operations. Thus a process to make CL from ACN with fewer distillation stages, and with lower pressure drop and lower base temperature, is accomplished.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of separation by distillation of 6-aminocapronitrile (ACN) and hexamethylenediamine (HMD) from a mixture comprising ACN, HMD, tetrahydrozaepine (THA), adiponitrile (ADN) and low boilers (LB). Also disclosed is a method for producing a distillate stream comprising HMD; a side draw stream comprising ACN, THA and low levels of dimers of ACN and HMD; and a tails stream comprising ACN, THA and substantially higher levels of dimers of ACN and HMD than found in the side draw stream. The side draw stream is particularly suitable for use in the production of caprolactam since the low levels of dimers of ACN and HMT do not greatly affect the catalyst life in the caprolactam production process. The tails stream can be further distilled to produce a tails distillate stream comprising ACN and THA, which can be recycled back to the first distillation column, further increasing recovery of ACN from the feed stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of separation by distillation of 6-aminocapronitrile (ACN) and hexamethylenediamine (HMD) from a mixture comprising ACN, HMD, tetrahydrozaepine (THA), adiponitrile (ADN) and low boilers (LB). A method for producing a distillate stream comprising HMD is disclosed, which is suitable for the production of Nylon-6,6. The tails stream from the distillation of the mixture can be further distilled to produce a distillate comprising ACN and THA, which is particularly suitable for use in the production of caprolactam and Nylon-6 from the caprolactam. Process conditions of the method of the invention disfavor the production of 2-cyanocyclopentylideneirnine (CPI).

Abstract: Process for making both ACN and HMD from partial hydrogenation of ADN by using a combination of distillations resulting in the formation of a mixture of HMD and THA that can be hydrogenated to produce a mixture of HMD and HMI that can be separated easily by simple distillation.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of a purified adiponitrile (ADN) from a mixture of adiponitrile, aminocapronitrile and hexamethylenediamine, utilizing two sequential distillations: (1) a first distillation in which the mixture is distilled in a distillation column at a head pressure that causes at least 7% of the ADN to go into the distillate, along with bishexamethylenetriamine (BHMT) and 2-cyanocyclopentylideneimine (CPI), and (2) a second distillation in which the distillate from the first distillation is distilled in a second distillation column at a head pressure sufficient to cause minimum-temperature azeotropy between ADN and BHMT, thereby allowing the majority of the BHMT and CPI to be removed from the second distillation as distillate, and ADN, substantially free of both BHMT and CPI, to be removed as bottoms.