Abstract: Process for separating anhydrous methanesulfonic acid from a reaction mixture comprising methanesulfonic acid and sulfuric acid by distillation with at least three functional steps and the use of said methanesulfonic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tray for a mass transfer column, having gas passage openings distributed over the tray (1), and having at least one baffle (11) for flow diversion of liquid flowing on the tray, it being possible for the tray (1) to be fed with a liquid via at least one entry (3). The tray has at least one entry (3), at least one separating weir (5), which separates the inflowing liquid into two streams, and at least two exits (12), or has at least two entries (3) and at least one exit (12) for the liquid, each stream flowing along a flow path (7; 9) to an exit (12). The invention further relates to a mass transfer column comprising the tray, and to a use of tray and mass transfer column.

Abstract: A reactor for carrying out a three-phase reaction of a liquid phase, a gaseous phase, and a catalyst over a fixed catalyst bed is disclosed. The liquid and gaseous phases are passed through the reactor via a mixing and distribution device positioned over the fixed catalyst bed. The mixing and distribution device includes a trough distributor for the liquid phase, having trough-shaped channels, outlet tubes in the trough-shaped channels for the liquid phase, a distributor plate below the trough distributor, and vertical nozzles, having one or more openings for the gaseous phase and one or more openings, arranged below the openings for the gaseous phase. For entry of the liquid phase, the nozzles are installed so that, at a predetermined liquid feed rate, the surface of the liquid on the distributor plate is below the openings for the gaseous phase and above the openings for the liquid phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tray for a mass transfer column, having gas passage openings distributed over the tray (1), and having at least one baffle (11) for flow diversion of liquid flowing on the tray, it being possible for the tray (1) to be fed with a liquid via at least one entry (3). The tray has at least one entry (3), at least one separating weir (5), which separates the inflowing liquid into two streams, and at least two exits (12), or has at least two entries (3) and at least one exit (12) for the liquid, each stream flowing along a flow path (7; 9) to an exit (12). The invention further relates to a mass transfer column comprising the tray, and to a use of tray and mass transfer column.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing hydroxypivalaldehyde (HPA), which comprises in a first stage reacting isobutyraldehyde with formaldehyde in the presence of a tertiary amine and in a second stage introducing the reaction output obtained from the first stage into a stripping column. The present application further relates to a process for preparing neopentyl glycol (NPG) by hydrogenating the hydroxypivalaldehyde prepared in accordance with the invention and the further conversion of the NPG thus obtained to polyester resins, unsaturated polyester resins, lubricants or plasticizers.

Abstract: A reactor (R) for carrying out a three-phase reaction of a liquid phase (1) and a gaseous phase (2) over a fixed catalyst bed (F), with the fixed catalyst bed (F) being arranged horizontally in the reactor (R) and the liquid phase (1) and the gaseous phase (2) being passed through the reactor (R) in cocurrent from the top downward via a mixing and distribution device (MD) over the fixed catalyst bed (F), wherein the mixing and distribution device (MD) comprises a trough distributor (TD) for the liquid phase (1) having trough-shaped channels (C) and outlet tubes (O) in the trough-shaped channels (C) for the liquid phase (1) and a distributor plate (P) which is arranged with a spacing below the trough distributor (TD) and in which vertical nozzles (N) having one or more openings (P1) for entry of the gaseous phase (2) and one or more openings (P2), which are arranged below the openings (P1) for entry of the gaseous phase, for entry of the liquid phase (1) into the nozzles (N) are installed, with the number and

Abstract: Process for the preparation of on-spec phthalic anhydride by the distillative purification of crude phthalic anhydride at reduced pressure, where the crude phthalic anhydride is passed to the distillation column above a side take-off, the low-boiling components are removed at the top of the column or in the vicinity of the top of the column and the on-spec phthalic anhydride is removed from the side take-off of the column, in which a distillation column is used whose number of theoretical plates located above the supply of the crude phthalic anhydride into the distillation column is 10 to 20 and the column is operated at a reflux ratio of from 0.1 to 0.5.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of on-spec phthalic anhydride by the distillative purification of crude phthalic anhydride at reduced pressure, where the crude phthalic anhydride is passed to the distillation column above a side take-off, the low-boiling components are removed at the top of the column or in the vicinity of the top of the column and the on-spec phthalic anhydride is removed from the side take-off of the column, in which a distillation column is used whose number of theoretical plates located above the supply of the crude phthalic anhydride into the distillation column is 10 to 20 and the column is operated at a reflux ratio of from 0.1 to 0.5.