Abstract: In a process for producing hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates by the reaction of (meth)acrylic acid with an alkylene oxide, a thermally and chemically stable anion exchange resin is used as a catalyst, which resin contains a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1) as a component: wherein A is a straight chain alkylene group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, each of R1, R2, and R3 is a hydrocarbon group or an alkanol group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may be substituted with a hydroxyl group, X− is a counter ion coordinated with an ammonium group, where the substituent A with the ammonium group may be substituted at any position of a benzene ring, and the benzene ring may be substituted with an alkyl group or a halogen atom. The process can economically efficiently produce hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates without disadvantages such as deterioration in properties of a distillation residue.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a purification process for hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate that suppresses forming by-products such as a diester and a dimer of acrylic acid in the distillation process, and can ensure a purity of hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate, and can operate stably without causing troubles such as polymerization. In a purification process for hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate which is obtained by reacting (meth)acrylic acid and alkylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst, and removing unreacted alkylene oxide and/or (meth)acrylic acid in a reaction solution after the reaction, a distillation apparatus having a portion of a vacant column and a thin-film evaporation apparatus are used at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a (meth)acrylic ester which enables to obtain a (meth)acrylic ester in an excellent reaction yield. The process for producing a (meth)acrylic ester uses an alcohol and an acid as raw materials and an ion-exchange resin as a catalyst, and the process is characterized by comprising a dehydration step and an esterification step, wherein the esterification reaction step follows the dehydration step in which water impregnated in the ion-exchange resin is removed by using as a dehydrating solvent at least one member selected from the group consisting of the alcohol, the acid, and the resulting ester.

Abstract: In a process for the purification of (meth)acrylic acid and/or its ester using a distillation unit containing a distillation column, a multitubular reboiler and a pipe connecting these elements, an oxygen containing gas is supplied from a least one point in regions between the distillation column and an inlet of the multitubular reboiler and/or in regions between the inlet and an inlet side tube sheet of the multitubular reboiler. This process can effectively prevent the formation of polymerization products and can stably purify (meth)acrylic acid and/or its ester over a long time.

Abstract: It intends to prevent the reduction in quantity with time of an oxyl compound in vinyl compounds. The quantity reduction of the N-oxyl compound is suppressed by causing an N-oxyl compound, N-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine compound and a 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine compound to co-exist in vinyl compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a production process for a hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate which process enables to maintain the oxygen concentration of a gas phase portion of a reactor within a specific low concentration range in any stage of before adding raw materials, during the reaction, and after the reaction. The production process comprises the step of carrying out a reaction between (meth)acrylic acid and an alkylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst in order to produce the hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate, wherein an inert gas and/or a mixed gas of oxygen and an inert gas with a beforehand adjusted oxygen concentration of 0.1 to 14 vol % is used to maintain the oxygen concentration of a gas phase portion of a reactor in the range of 0.1 to 14 vol % (1) before adding the alkylene oxide or (2) during the above reaction or (3) between the completion of the above reaction and the charge for the next reaction.

Abstract: A method of producing highly purified acrylic acid in a high yield is provided. A method of producing acrylic acid including the steps of an oxidation step, an absorption step, a distillation step, a crystallization step, and a dimer decomposition step.

Abstract: A method for washing a spent solid catalyst is disclosed which is characterized by washing the solid catalyst used for the reaction of generating an esterified compound in a device packed with the solid catalyst, distilling the cleaning fluid in a distilling part, and circulating the fraction obtained by the distillation to an esterification reactor. According to this invention, the existing apparatus used during the process for the production of an esterified compound can be adopted without any modification, the water by-produced in the reaction for production an esterified compound and an alcohol as the raw material for esterification can be used as the cleaning fluid, and these effective components can be recovered from the cleaning fluid. Thus, the stimulation from the offensive odor and the volatile component which has heretofore posed a problem during the removal of the solid catalyst is eliminated and the safety in terms of heath and in terms of operation is secured.

Abstract: To sufficiently stabilize a hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate in spite of its easily polymerizable property, a hydroxyalkyl saturated-carboxylate and/or alkylene glycol as well as a phenol compound is added thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for producing (meth)acrylic acid and a process for producing (meth)acrylic acid with this apparatus wherein the apparatus enables to produce (meth)acrylic acid stably for a long period of time by effectively inhibiting the polymerization of (meth)acrylic acid in its production process (for example, in a reboiler). At least a part of the apparatus is made of a nickel-chromium-iron alloy with a molybdenum content of 3 to 20 mass %, but not including 3 mass %, or with a molybdenum content of 1 to 4 mass % and a copper content of 0.5 to 7 mass %.

Abstract: The present invention provides an industrially easy and economical method for purification of acrylic acid which enables to efficiently eliminate impurities from a crude acrylic acid containing aldehydes as the impurities while the formation of acrylic acid polymer is inhibited.

Abstract: It intends to prevent the reduction in quantity with time of an N-oxyl compound in vinyl compounds. The quantity reduction of the N-oxyl compound is suppressed by causing an N-oxyl compound, N-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine compound and a 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine compound to co-exist in vinyl compounds.

Abstract: A method for recovering acrylic acid from high boiling impurities containing acrylic acid dimer, acrylic acid and maleic acid at high efficiency with stability which includes the steps of (1) introducing said high boiling impurities containing acrylic acid dimer, acrylic acid and maleic acid into an acrylic acid recovery column, distilling acrylic acid from the column top and recovering the same, (2) introducing bottom liquid A from said acrylic acid recovery column into a pyrolyzing tank to decompose the acrylic acid dimer in the bottom liquid A, and (3) recirculating at least a part of bottom liquid B from said pyrolyzing tank into the acrylic acid recovery column.

Abstract: An improved method which enables stable and effective recovery of acrylic acid over a prolonged period is provided, said method comprising contacting an acrylic acid-containing gas obtained upon gas-phase catalytic oxidation of propylene and/or acrolein, with water, whereby collecting the acrylic acid in form of an aqueous solution, introducing said aqueous solution into an azeotropic separation column and distilling it in the presence of an azeotropic solvent to isolate and recover the acrylic acid, in which polymerization of the acrylic acid in the azeotropic separation column is prevented. Said method is characterized by using as the azeotropic solvent either a mixed solvent composed of solvent A (eg., ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, etc.) and solvent B (eg., toluene, heptane, etc.) (first embodiment) or the solvent A alone (second embodiment).

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for production of acrylic acid by subjecting propylene and/or acrolein to catalytic gas-phase oxidation with a molecular oxygen-containing gas. In the process, the mixed gas obtained by the catalytic gas-phase oxidation is contacted with an aqueous collecting agent containing acrylic acid, acetic acid and a poorly-soluble-in-water solvent, to form an aqueous acrylic acid solution; and the aqueous acrylic acid solution is subjected to azeotropic distillation in the presence of a poorly-soluble-in-water solvent to remove by-products and obtain high-purity acrylic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for inhibiting polymerizable (meth)acrylic acid and esters thereof from polymerizing during their production, transportation and storage by using as the inhibitor N-oxyl compound and more than one compound selected from the group consisting of manganese salt compound, copper salt compound, 2,2,6,6,-tetramethylpiperidine compound and nitroso compound. The N-oxyl compound is one or more kinds selected from 2,2,6,6,-tetramethylpiperidinooxyl, 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6,-tetramethylpiperidinooxyl and 4,4',4"-tris-(2,2,6,6,-tetramethylpiperidinooxyl)phosphite. The combined use of the inhibitors provides superior inhibiting effect to use alone.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a polymerization inhibitor and a polymerization inhibiting method which enables the continuous operation of a device for producing vinyl compounds over a long period of time and virtually eliminates corrosion. Further, the polymerization inhibitors according to the present invention are superior in polymerization inhibition when transferring and storing the vinyl compound products and in other cases. The polymerization inhibitor according to the present invention contains manganese dithiocarbamate or a thiuram compound as an effective component. The polymerization inhibiting method of this invention comprises individual or joint use of said inhibitors, or joint use of a copper salt, another manganese salt, or quinones in addition to said inhibitors. Further, the method may comprise jointly using copper dithiocarbamates in a manganese salt as polymerization inhibitors, or jointly using quinones in addition to the salts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for inhibiting polymerizable (meth)acrylic acid and esters thereof from polymerizing during their production and storage by using as the inhibitor N-oxyl compound, phenol compound, and phenothiazine compound in combination with one another. The combined use of the three inhibitors provides superior inhibiting effect to use alone alone or in pairs.

Abstract: A process for producing acrylic acid is described, which process comprising providing a mixed gas of acrylic acid and by-products produced by catalytic gas phase oxidation of propylene and/or acrolein, contacting the mixed gas with water to obtain an aqueous solution, and adding an azeotrope solvent to the aqueous solution for distillation to obtain a mixture of the by-products, water and the azeotrope solvent from a tower top and acrylic acid from a tower bottom. Highly pure acrylic acid is obtained by using, as the azeotrope solvent, a mixed solvent of solvent A selected from diethyl ketone, methyl propyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl-tert-butyl ketone, n-propyl acetate and mixtures thereof and solvent B selected from toluene, heptane, methyl cyclohexane and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: In the production of methacrylic acid by the vapor phase catalytic oxidation of isobutylene, t-butanol, methacrolein isobutyl aldehyde or isobutyric acid, or mixture thereof, the reaction product gas is condensed by contact with an aqueous phase containing methacrylic acid and acetic acid thereby forming an aqueous solution of methacrylic acid and a gas phase containing methacrolein and methacrylic acid. The aqueous solution of methacrylic acid is extracted with a saturated hydrocarbon solvent containing from 6-9 carbon atoms. The methacrylic acid is extracted into the solvent phase and an aqueous phase containing acetic acid is also formed. Methacrolein is recovered from the gas containing methacrolein and methacrylic acid by contacting the gas with an aqueous phase containing methacrylic acid and acetic acid. An aqueous phase containing methacrylic acid, acetic acid and methacrolein is formed in the methacrolein recovery step.