Abstract: This invention pertains to an improved process for preparing noncyclic polyalkylene polyamine compounds in high selectivity by reacting an alkanolamine and an alkylene amine in the presence of an acidic catalyst. The improvement resides in effecting the reaction under fixed bed catalytic conditions and maintaining the reaction conditions such that a vapor phase condition exists for the reaction mixture comprising both reactants and products. To accomplish the formation of vapor phase conditions, sufficient alkylenediamine is injected into the feedstream along with alkanolamine, temperature is maintained from 200.degree.-280.degree. C., and pressure ranges from about 0 psig to 150 psig so that the dew point temperature of the reaction product mix is below the reaction temperature at reaction pressure.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an improved process for preparing noncyclic polyalkylene polyamine compounds in high selectivity by reacting an alkanolamine and an alkylene amine in the presence of an inert gas and an acidic catalyst. The improvement resides in effecting the reaction under fixed bed catalytic conditions and maintaining the reaction conditions such that a vapor phase condition exists for the reaction mixture comprising both reactants and products. To accomplish the formation of vapor phase conditions sufficient inert gas is injected into the feedstream along with alkanolamine and alkylene amine so that the dew point temperature of the reaction product mix is below the reaction temperature at reaction pressure.

Abstract: In a process for the preparation of alkylamines which comprises contacting an alkanol feed having at least three carbon atoms with ammonia in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and hydrogen in a reaction zone to yield a product effluent stream, separating the product effluent stream into an alkylamine stream for distillation and a vent stream comprising hydrogen and hydrocarbon by-products, the method comprising(a) contacting the hydrogen and hydrocarbon by-products vent stream in an absorber with an alkanol which is the same as the alkanol feed to yield a hydrogen gas stream and an alkanol wash stream containing the hydrocarbons,(b) recycling the hydrogen gas stream to the reaction zone,(c) stripping the alkanol wash stream in a stripper to provide a hydrocarbon waste stream and a regenerated alkanol stream, and(d) recycling the regenerated alkanol stream to the reaction zone.