Abstract: A process for the fractional condensation of a gas mixture which, in addition to acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, also contains at least one further condensable component and additionally a high proportion of one or more noncondensable components, wherein the gas mixture is passed through a column having separatory internals and the condensable components are condensed by cooling.

Abstract: A process for preparing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid comprises preparing a gaseous product mixture having essentially the composition of a reaction mixture of the catalytic gas phase oxidation of C3-/C4-alkanes, -alkenes, -alkanols and/or -alkanals and/or precursors thereof to form acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. The product is removed from the gaseous product mixture by a process comprising the following steps: (a) condensing said gaseous product mixture, (b) crystallizing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid from the solution obtained in step (a), (c) removing the resulting crystals from the mother liquor, and (d) recycling at least a portion of said mother liquor from step (c) into step (a).

Abstract: A process for the preparation of acrylic acid by: (a) preparation of a gaseous product mixture which essentially has the composition of a reaction mixture of catalytic gas-phase oxidation of C3-alkanes, C3-alkenes, C3-alkanols and/or C3-alkanals and/or intermediates thereof to acrylic acid, which comprises (b) condensation of the gaseous product mixture, (c) crystallization of the acrylic acid from the solution obtained in stage (b), with partial evaporation of the solution under reduced pressure, (d) isolation of the resulting crystals from the mother liquor, (e) recycling of at least a part of the mother liquor from stage (d) to stage (b) and (f) recycling of at least a part of the evaporated solution from stage (c) to stage (b).

Abstract: 1,2,4-Butanetriol is prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of malic esters over a copper-containing catalyst by passing the esters over the fixed-bed catalyst at from 130.degree. to 190.degree. C. under hydrogen partial pressures of from 100 to 300 bar while substantially avoiding the formation of a gas phase.

Abstract: A C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon mixture which essentially contains n-butenes and butanes is separated by a process in whichthe mixture is reacted with a carboxylic acid in the presence of an acidic catalyst to form a butyl carboxylate,the reaction mixture obtained from the esterification zone is distilled to give, as the top product, a fraction containing the butanes, and, as the bottom product, a fraction containing the resulting butyl carboxylate,the butyl carboxylate is decomposed at elevated temperatures to give the carboxylic acid and n-butenes, andthe mixture of n-butenes and carboxylic acid is then distilled, the n-butenes being obtained as the top product, and the carboxylic acid as the bottom product.

Abstract: A process for isolating a conjugated diolefin from a C.sub.4 - or C.sub.5 -hydrocarbon mixture containing the diolefin, by single-stage or multi-stage extractive distillation using a selective solvent, wherein the selective solvent is a solvent mixture which comprises(a) from 50 to 99 percent by weight of a selective solvent boiling at from 140.degree. C. to 260.degree. C. and(b) from 1 to 50 percent by weight of an organic solvent boiling at from 45.degree. C. to 125.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for isolating a conjugated diolefin from a C.sub.4 - or C.sub.5 -hydrocarbon mixture containing the diolefin, by single-stage or multi-stage extractive distillation using a selective solvent, wherein the selective solvent is a solvent mixture which comprises(a) from 1 to 99 percent by weight of an N-alkyl-substituted lower aliphatic acid amide or of an N-alkyl-substituted alicyclic acid amide having 5 ring members and(b) from 1 to 99 percent by weight of an lower aliphatic carboxylic acid ester or carbonic acid ester boiling at from 30.degree. C. to 200.degree. C.