Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing hydrocyanic acid (HCN) by catalytic dehydration of gaseous formamide in a reactor which has an internal reactor surface made of a steel comprising iron and chromium and nickel, and also to a reactor for preparing hydrocyanic acid by catalytic dehydration of gaseous formamide, which reactor has an internal reactor surface made of a steel comprising iron and chromium and nickel, and also to the use of the reactor of the present invention in a process for preparing hydrocyanic acid by catalytic dehydration of gaseous formamide.

Abstract: A process for purifying crude caprolactam which has been obtained by 1) converting a mixture (I) comprising 6-aminocapronitrile and water to a mixture (II) comprising caprolactam, ammonia, water, high boilers and low boilers in the presence of a catalyst, then 2) removing ammonia from mixture (II) to obtain a mixture (III) comprising caprolactam, water, high boilers and low boilers, then 3) completely or partly removing water from mixture (III) to obtain crude caprolactam (IV) comprising caprolactam, high boilers and low boilers, which comprises a) feeding the crude caprolactam and an inorganic acid which has a boiling point above the boiling point of caprolactam under the distillation conditions of the following steps b) to h) to a first distillation apparatus C1, b) distilling the crude caprolactam and the inorganic acid in the first distillation apparatus C1, and removing a first substream in the bottom region and a second substream in the top region of the distillation apparatus C1, c) feeding the second

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for continuously returning an olefin which has not been reacted with hydroperoxide in order to form oxiranes during the epoxidation of olefins. Said olefin is contained in the flow of waste gas which is produced during epoxidation. Said method is characterised by the following steps: (i) compressing and cooling the flow of waste gas, (ii) separating the olefin from the flow of waste gas obtained in step (i) by distillation,(iii) epoxidating the olefin separated in (ii) with hydroperoxide.

Abstract: A process for removing high boilers from crude caprolactam which comprises high boilers, caprolactam and in some cases low boilers, and which has been obtained by a) reacting 6-aminocapronitrile with water to give a reaction mixture b) removing ammonia and unconverted water from the reaction mixture to obtain crude caprolactam, which comprises c) feeding the crude caprolactam to a distillation apparatus to obtain a first substream via the top as a product and a second substream via the bottom, by setting the pressure in the distillation in such a way that the bottom temperature does not go below 170° C., and adjusting the second substream in such a way that the caprolactam content of the second substream is not less than 10% by weight, based on the entire second substream.

Abstract: Process for the continuous preparation of propylene glycols, which comprises the steps (i) to (ii): (i) reacting propylene with hydrogen peroxide to form propylene oxide and give propylene glycols as by-products, (ii) reacting the propylene oxide obtained in step (i) with water to give propylene glycols, (iii) separating off the propylene glycols obtained in steps (i) and (ii).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the manufacture of solid materials or shaped bodies containing at least one zeolite and being at least partly crystalline. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the solid materials or shaped bodies as such and to the use of these materials for reactions of compounds having at least one C—C double bond with at least one hydroperoxide. Specifically, the present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a solid material containing at least one zeolite and being at least partly crystalline, wherein the synthesis of the said solid material involves at least one partial step of contacting at least one transition metal oxide source with at least one epoxide or hydrolysate thereof prior to or during the at least partial crystallization of said solid material.