Abstract: A method for separating acetonitrile from water, comprising (i) providing a stream S1 containing at least 95 wt.-%, based on the total weight of S1, acetonitrile and water, wherein the weight ratio of acetonitrile: water is greater than 1; (ii) adding a stream P, comprising at least 95 wt.-% C3, based on the total weight of stream P, to S1 to obtain a mixed stream S2, C3 being propene optionally admixed with propane with a minimum weight ratio of propene: propane of 7:3; (iii) subjecting S2 to a temperature of 92° C. at most and a pressure of at least 10 bar, obtaining a first liquid phase L1 essentially consisting of C3, acetonitrile, and water, and a second liquid phase L2 essentially consisting of water and acetonitrile wherein the weight ratio of acetonitrile: water in L2 is less than 1; (iv) separating L1 from L2.

Abstract: A method for producing 3-pentenenitrile is provided that includes: (a) isomerizing an educt stream containing 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile on at least one dissolved or dispersed isomerization catalyst to form a stream (1), which contains the isomerization catalyst(s), 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, 3-pentenenitrile and (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile; (b) distilling the stream (1) to obtain a stream (2) as the overhead product, which contains 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, 3-pentenenitrile and (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile and a stream (3) as the bottom product, which contains the isomerization catalyst(s); (c) distilling the stream (2) to obtain a stream (4) as the overhead product, which is enriched with (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile in comparison to stream (2), and a stream (5) as the bottom product, which is enriched with 3-pentenenitrile and 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile in comparison to stream (2); (d) distilling stream (5) to obtain a stream (6) as the bottom product, which contains 3-pentenenitrile and a stream (7) as the he

Abstract: The iron-containing catalyst suitable for use as a catalyst contains a) iron or a mixture containing iron and an iron-based compound. The iron has an average crystallite size ranging from 1-35 nm measured by X-ray diffraction.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for purifying crude caprolactam. The process involves converting a first mixture of 6-amino capronitrile and water to a second mixture of caprolactam ammonia, water, high boilers and low boilers using a catalyst. The ammonia is removed from the second mixture to obtain a third mixture. Water is removed from the third mixture to give crude caprolactam, high boiler and low boilers. Purified caprolactam is then obtained by a series of distillation steps.

Abstract: A process for reducing the level of an aliphatic monounsaturated amine (IV) in a mixture (V) containing an aminonitrile (I) or a diamine (II) or a dinitrile (III) or mixtures thereof as well as said mine (IV) by a) reacting said mixture (V) with an anionic nucleophile (VI) which contains a nucleophilic atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur, which is capable of taking up an H+ ion to form an acid having a pKa value in the range from 7 to 11, as measured in water at 25° C., and which has a relative nucleophilicity, as measured in methyl perchlorate/methanol at 25° C., in the range from 3.4 to 4.7 when said nucleophilic atom is oxygen, in the range from 4.5 to 5.8 when said nucleophilic atom is nitrogen, and in the range from 5.5 to 6.8 when said nucleophilic atom is sulfur, in an amount in the range from 0.01 to 10 mol per mole of said amine (IV) in said mixture (V) at a temperature in the range from 50 to 200° C.

Abstract: A process for continuously preparing a compound which bears at least two functional groups which are each independently selected from the group consisting of nitrile group, carboxylic acid group, carboxylic ester group and carboxamide group.