Abstract: The present invention provides a vacuum pump (10) which comprises a turbo-molecular pumping mechanism (12) in series with a Siegbahn pumping mechanism (14). A first pump inlet (16) is provided through which gas can pass through both the turbo-molecular pumping mechanism and the Siegbahn pumping mechanism. Additionally, an inter-stage (inlet 18) is provided through which gas can enter the pump at a location between the turbo-molecular pumping mechanism and the Siegbahn pumping mechanism and pass only through the Siegbahn pumping mechanism. There are flow channels (52, 62) in a first plurality of stages (32, 34) of the Siegbahn pumping mechanism which are in fluid communication with the inter-stage inlet (18) and gas entering the pump through the inter-stage inlet is pumped in parallel along said flow channels.

Abstract: A process for preparing an aromatic amine by reacting a corresponding aromatic alcohol with an aminating agent selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary amines and secondary amines, in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst molding, at a temperature of from 60-300°. The catalyst molding comprises Zr, Pd and Pt and has an annular tablet form with an external diameter in the range from 2-6 mm, a height in the range from 1-4 mm and an internal diameter of from 1-5 mm or a topologically equivalent form with the same volume. Catalyst moldings comprising Zr, Pd and Pt are also provided. The catalyst molding has an annular tablet form with an external diameter in the range from 3-6 mm, a height in the range from 1-4 mm and an internal diameter of from 2-5 mm or a topologically equivalent form.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing 1-adamantyltrimethyl-ammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for improving the catalytic properties of a catalyst comprising one or more elements selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel and copper, said catalyst being present in the form of a structured monolith, by contacting the catalyst with one or more basic compounds selected from the group of the alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and rare earth metals. The invention further relates to a process for hydrogenating compounds which comprise at least one unsaturated carbon-carbon, carbon-nitrogen or carbon-oxygen bond in the presence of a catalyst comprising one or more elements selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel and copper, said catalyst being present in the form of a structured monolith, by contacting the catalyst with one or more basic compounds selected from the group of the alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and rare earth metals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts and processes for preparation thereof, said catalysts being obtainable by contacting a monolithic catalyst support with a suspension which comprises one or more insoluble or sparingly soluble compounds of the elements selected from the group of the elements cobalt, nickel and copper. The invention further relates to the use of the inventive catalyst in a process for hydrogenating organic substances, especially for hydrogenating nitriles, and to a process for hydrogenating organic compounds, which comprises using an inventive catalyst in the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst comprising one or more elements selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel and copper, said catalyst being present in the form of a structured monolith, wherein said catalyst comprises one or more elements selected from the group of the alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and rare earth metals. The invention further relates to processes for preparing the inventive catalyst and to the use of the inventive catalyst in a process for hydrogenating organic substances, especially for hydrogenating nitriles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of setting the pressure in a chamber of a vacuum system to a required pressure, the system comprising a pressure control system including a pump for evacuating gas from the chamber and a flow controller for allowing the flow of gas into the chamber, the method comprising setting an initial flow into and/or out of the chamber for achieving a pressure above the required pressure so as to increase the rate of pressure increase, the initial flow occurring over a transient period which does not allow the pressure to exceed the required pressure, and setting a preset flow into and/or out of the chamber after the transient period has elapsed for achieving and maintaining the required pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing N,N-substituted 3-aminopropan-1-ols by a) reacting secondary amine with acrolein at a temperature of (?50) to 100° C. and a pressure of 0.01 to 300 bar, and b) reacting the reaction mixture obtained in stage a) with hydrogen and ammonia in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at a pressure of 1 to 400 bar, wherein the molar ratio of secondary amine to acrolein in stage a) is 1:1 or more and the temperature in stage b) is in the range from (?50) to 70° C. In a preferred embodiment, acrolein which has been obtained from glycerol based on renewable raw materials is used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a cyclic diamine, comprising the reaction of at least one cyclic alkene with a gas mixture (G) comprising dinitrogen the subsequent conversion of monoxide to give at least one cyclic ketone and then converting the at least one cyclic ketone to a cyclic diamine. The invention also relates to the use of a cyclic diamine with primary and secondary amine functions thus obtained to prepare polyamides and polyurethanes.

Abstract: Process for the continuous preparation of an amine by reaction of a primary or secondary alcohol, aldehyde and/or ketone with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary and secondary amines at a temperature in the range from 60 to 300° C. in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper oxide and aluminum oxide, wherein the reaction takes place in the gas phase and the catalytically active composition of the catalyst before reduction with hydrogen comprises PS from 20 to 75% by weight of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), from 20 to 75% by weight of oxygen-comprising compounds of copper, calculated as CuO, from 0 to 2% by weight of oxygen-comprising compounds of sodium, calculated as Na2O, and less than 5% by weight of oxygen-comprising compounds of nickel, calculated as NiO, and the shaped catalyst body has a pellet shape having a diameter in the range from 1 to 4 mm and a height in the range from 1 to 4 mm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 5-isopropyl-3-aminomethyl-2-methyl-1-aminocyclohexane (carvonediamine) and to a process for preparation thereof by a) reacting carvone with hydrogen cyanide, b) then reacting the carvonenitrile obtained in stage a) with ammonia in the presence of an imine formation catalyst and c) then reacting the carvonenitrile imine-containing reaction mixture obtained in stage b) with hydrogen and ammonia over hydrogenation catalysts. The present invention further relates to the use of carvonediamine as a hardener for epoxy resins, as an intermediate in the preparation of diisocyanates, as a starter in the preparation of polyetherols and/or as a monomer for polyamide preparation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 3-aminomethyl-1-cyclohexylamine and to a process for preparation thereof by a) reacting cyclohexenone with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a basic catalyst, b) reacting the cyclohexanonenitrile obtained in stage a) with ammonia in the presence of an imine formation catalyst, and c) reacting the 3-cyanocyclohexylimine-containing reaction mixture obtained in stage b) with hydrogen and ammonia over hydrogenation catalysts. The present invention further relates to the use of 3-aminomethyl-1-cyclohexylamine as a hardener for epoxy resins, as an intermediate in the preparation of diisocyanates, as a starter in the preparation of polyetherols and/or as a monomer for polyamide preparation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the industrial preparation of a diamine starting from a corresponding alkenyl nitrile comprising at least one C—C double bond, which comprises the steps (a) reaction of the alkenyl nitrile with a corresponding monoamine in a first reactor so that the monoamine adds exothermically onto the at least one double bond to form an aminoalkyl nitrile, with the monoamine and water being charged initially and the alkenyl nitrile being fed in; (b) evaporation of unreacted alkenyl nitrile and monoamine to increase the concentration of the aminoalkyl nitrile product in the bottoms of the first reactor; (c) transfer of the aminoalkyl nitrile bottom product from step (b) to a second reactor; (d) batchwise catalytic hydrogenation of the aminoalkyl nitrile transferred in step (c) to the diamine in the second reactor, with each batch being obtained by initially charging a catalyst suitable for the hydrogenation of nitriles to amines and also water, the desired diamine and a bas

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing N,N-substituted 1,3-propanediamine by a) reacting secondary amine with acrolein at a temperature of from (?50) to 100° C. and a pressure of from 0.01 to 300 bar, and b) reacting the reaction mixture obtained in stage a) with hydrogen and ammonia in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at a temperature of from 40 to 400° C. and a pressure of from 1 to 400 bar, wherein the molar ratio of secondary amine to acrolein in stage a) is 2:1 or more and the hydrogenation catalyst used in stage b) comprises cobalt. In a preferred embodiment, acrolein which has been obtained from glycerol based on renewable raw materials is used. The invention further relates to the use of N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (DMAPA) based on renewable raw materials as a feedstock for lubricant soaps and other detergents, coagulants, polymers and comb polymers. In a further preferred embodiment, stage b) is performed in the presence of water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing amines by reacting sugar alcohols with hydrogen and an aminating agent selected from the group of ammonia and primary and secondary amines in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of from 100° C. to 400° C. and a pressure of from 1 to 40 MPa (from 10 to 400 bar). The catalyst preferably comprises one metal or a plurality of metals or one or more oxygen compounds of the metals of groups 8 and/or 9 and/or 10 and/or 11 of the Periodic Table of the Elements. The sugar alcohol is preferably obtained by hydrogenating the corresponding sugars. The invention further relates to the use of the reaction products as an additive in cement or concrete production and in other fields of use.

Abstract: A method of operating apparatus for controlling the pressure in a process chamber (10), the apparatus comprising a first pump unit (14) having an inlet in fluid connection with an outlet of said process chamber, and a second pump unit (16) having an inlet in fluid connection with an outlet of the first pump unit via a flow control unit (18) comprising a variable flow control device (20; 28) having variable conductance for controlling outlet fluid pressure at the outlet of the first pump unit, the method comprises controlling speed of the first pump unit to increase the range of chamber pressures over which control of the outlet fluid pressure produces changes in said chamber pressure without exceeding the thermal limit and/or motor stall limit of the first pump unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing amines by reacting glycerol with hydrogen and an aminating agent from the group of ammonia and primary and secondary amines in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of from 100° C. to 400° C. and a pressure of from 0.01 to 40 MPa (from 0.1 to 400 bar). Preference is given to using glycerol based on renewable raw materials. The catalyst preferably comprises one metal or a plurality of metals or one or more oxygen compounds of the metals of groups 8 and/or 9 and/or 10 and/or 11 of the Periodic Table of the Elements. The invention further relates to the use of the reaction products as an additive in cement or concrete production and in other fields of use. This invention further provides the compounds 1,2,3-triaminopropane, 2-aminomethyl-6-methylpiperazine, 2,5-bis(aminomethyl)piperazine and 2,6-bis(aminomethyl)piperazine.

Abstract: Process for preparing an N-unsubstituted or N-substituted aziridine of the formula which comprises reacting an olefin of the formula I where R1 to R5 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, a linear or branched alkyl radical having from 1 to 16 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl radical having from 5 to 7 carbon atoms, a benzyl or phenyl radical which in each case may be substituted in the o, m or p position of the phenyl radical by methoxy, hydroxy, chlorine or alkyl radicals having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the radical R1 or R2 together with the radical R3 or R4 may be closed to form a 5- to 12-membered ring or the radicals R1 and R2 may be closed to form a 5- to 12-membered ring, with ammonia or a primary amine of the formula R5NH2 in the presence of iodine or bromine.

Abstract: A pump insert (50) for supporting a rotor (14) of a pump comprises an annular resilient support (52) for engaging the body (26) of the pump, the support (52) extending about a rolling bearing (10) having an inner race (12) for engaging the rotor (14), an axially preloaded outer race (16) fixed to the support (52), and a plurality of rolling elements (18) located between the races. During assembly, the rolling bearing (10) can be accurately positioned within the support (52) so that there is a very low tolerance stack-up when the insert (50) is fitted to the rotor (14). Consequently, the position of the rotor (14) will hardly change, if at all, when the rolling bearing (10) is replaced during servicing of the pump.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the industrial preparation of a diamine starting from a corresponding alkenyl nitrile comprising at least one C—C double bond, which comprises the steps (a) reaction of the alkenyl nitrile with a corresponding monoamine in a first reactor so that the monoamine adds exothermically onto the at least one double bond to form an aminoalkyl nitrile, with the monoamine and water being charged initially and the alkenyl nitrile being fed in; (b) evaporation of unreacted alkenyl nitrile and monoamine to increase the concentration of the aminoalkyl nitrile product in the bottoms of the first reactor; (c) transfer of the aminoalkyl nitrile bottom product from step (b) to a second reactor; (d) batchwise catalytic hydrogenation of the aminoalkyl nitrile transferred in step (c) to the diamine in the second reactor, with each batch being obtained by initially charging a catalyst suitable for the hydrogenation of nitriles to amines and also water, the desired diamine and a base,