Abstract: The present invention provides materials for improving the ignition of gaseous reactants in metal catalyzed oxidation reactions comprising a metal catalyst gauze, preferably, a platinum/rhodium catalyst gauze, having in contact therewith, from 0.5 to 1.5 wt. %, based on the weight of the metal catalyst gauze, of one or more pieces of previously used metal catalyst gauze. Further, methods of making the metal catalyst materials comprise shaping the pieces of previously used metal catalyst gauze and placing them equidistant from each other in contact with or on the surface of the metal catalyst gauze. And methods of using the materials comprise feeding into the reactor a gas mixture of oxygen or air and one or more reactant gases, and igniting the gas mixture at the surface of one or more or all of the pieces of previously used metal catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials for improving the ignition of gaseous reactants in metal catalyzed oxidation reactions comprising a metal catalyst gauze, preferably, a platinum/rhodium catalyst gauze, having in contact therewith, from 0.5 to 1.5 wt. %, based on the weight of the metal catalyst gauze, of one or more pieces of previously used metal catalyst gauze. Further, methods of making the metal catalyst materials comprise shaping the pieces of previously used metal catalyst gauze and placing them equidistant from each other in contact with or on the surface of the metal catalyst gauze. And methods of using the materials comprise feeding into the reactor a gas mixture of oxygen or air and one or more reactant gases, and igniting the gas mixture at the surface of one or more or all of the pieces of previously used metal catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods comprising washing or, preferably, washing and neutralizing a sulfur acid containing crude MMA stream to generate a two phase stream containing at least methacrylic acid, methacrylamide (MAM), water and methanol, and an organic component containing methyl methacrylate and thereby form an aqueous component; including in any of the organic component, the aqueous component of a neutralized sulfur acid containing crude methyl methacrylate (MMA) stream or the organic component of a neutralized sulfur acid containing crude methyl methacrylate (MMA) stream one or more N-oxyl compound polymerization inhibitor; followed by separating the aqueous component from the organic component, thereby forming a treated crude MMA stream and an aqueous stream to remove residual (meth) acrylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods comprising washing or, preferably, washing and neutralizing a sulfur acid containing crude MMA stream to generate a two phase stream containing at least methacrylic acid, methacrylamide (MAM), water and methanol, and an organic component containing methyl methacrylate and thereby form an aqueous component; including in any of the organic component, the aqueous component of a neutralized sulfur acid containing crude methyl methacrylate (MMA) stream or the organic component of a neutralized sulfur acid containing crude methyl methacrylate (MMA) stream one or more N-oxyl compound polymerization inhibitor; followed by separating the aqueous component from the organic component, thereby forming a treated crude MMA stream and an aqueous stream to remove residual (meth) acrylic acid.

Abstract: Fouling of an MMA process is reduced by strategically removing an aqueous slip stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials for improving the ignition of gaseous reactants in metal catalyzed oxidation reactions comprising a metal catalyst gauze, preferably, a platinum/rhodium catalyst gauze, having in contact therewith, from 0.25 to 1.5 wt. %, based on the weight of the metal catalyst gauze, of one or more pieces of previously used metal catalyst gauze. Further, methods of making the metal catalyst materials comprise shaping the pieces of previously used metal catalyst gauze and placing them equidistant from each other in contact with or on the surface of the metal catalyst gauze. And methods of using the materials comprise feeding into the reactor a gas mixture of oxygen or air and one or more reactant gases, and igniting the gas mixture at the surface of one or more or all of the pieces of previously used metal catalyst.

Abstract: Fouling of an MMA process is reduced by acidifying a stream comprising recycled components.

Abstract: Fouling of an MMA process is reduced by acidifying a stream comprising recycled components.

Abstract: Provided is a method for removing deposited solid residue from equipment used in the processing of (meth)acrylic acid or esters, including the steps of dissolving the solid residue in a cleaning solution comprising an organic carboxylic acid to produce a solid residue slurry; and removing the solid residue slurry from the equipment.

Abstract: Fouling of an MMA process is reduced by strategically removing an aqueous slip stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides materials for improving the ignition of gaseous reactants in metal catalyzed oxidation reactions comprising a metal catalyst gauze, preferably, a platinum/rhodium catalyst gauze, having in contact therewith, from 0.25 to 1.5 wt. %, based on the weight of the metal catalyst gauze, of one or more pieces of previously used metal catalyst gauze. Further, methods of making the metal catalyst materials comprise shaping the pieces of previously used metal catalyst gauze and placing them equidistant from each other in contact with or on the surface of the metal catalyst gauze. And methods of using the materials comprise feeding into the reactor a gas mixture of oxygen or air and one or more reactant gases, and igniting the gas mixture at the surface of one or more or all of the pieces of previously used metal catalyst.

Abstract: A static mixer (10) for combining a first fluid and a second fluid. The static mixer (10) including a plurality of plates (18, 24, 32, 40) having orifices (20, 26, 28) formed therethrough. As the first fluid and the second fluid pass through the static mixer (10), the fluids are combined and mixed.

Abstract: A transesterification process produces a (meth)acrylate ester product from a mixture comprising an alkyl(meth)acrylate reactant, an alcohol reactant, a catalyst, and a polymerization inhibitor. The mixture is subjected to reaction conditions sufficient to produce a product (meth)acrylate and a product alcohol, which are different than the reactants.

Abstract: A transesterification process produces a (meth)acrylate ester product from a mixture comprising an alkyl(meth)acrylate reactant, an alcohol reactant, a catalyst, and a polymerization inhibitor, wherein the water content in the reaction zone at the start of the transesterification step is from 0.2 to 1.1 weight percent, based on the weight of the materials in the reaction zone. The mixture is subjected to reaction conditions sufficient to produce a product (meth)acrylate and a product alcohol, which are different than the reactants.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for reducing biacetyl in alpha-, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters, particularly in acrylic or methacrylic (hereinafter “(meth)acrylic”) esters, which comprise low levels of weak acid.

Abstract: A transesterification process produces a (meth)acrylate ester product from a mixture comprising an alkyl(meth)acrylate reactant, an alcohol reactant, a catalyst, and a polymerization inhibitor. The mixture is subjected to reaction conditions sufficient to produce a product (meth)acrylate and a product alcohol, which are different than the reactants.

Abstract: A transesterification process produces a (meth)acrylate ester product from a mixture comprising an alkyl(meth)acrylate reactant, an alcohol reactant, a catalyst, and a polymerization inhibitor, wherein the water content in the reaction zone at the start of the transesterification step is from 0.2 to 1.1 weight percent, based on the weight of the materials in the reaction zone. The mixture is subjected to reaction conditions sufficient to produce a product (meth)acrylate and a product alcohol, which are different than the reactants.

Abstract: Provided is a method for removing deposited solid residue from equipment used in the processing of (meth)acrylic acid or esters, including the steps of dissolving the solid residue in a cleaning solution comprising an organic carboxylic acid to produce a solid residue slurry; and removing the solid residue slurry from the equipment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing accumulation of solid materials when manufacturing a (meth)acrylic acid ester having low biacetyl content (less than 2 ppm) by adding an aromatic diamine under conditions which provide sufficient residence time and thorough mixing to react up to 100% by weight of the biacetyl in the crude (meth)acrylic acid ester stream, prior to separation and purification. A feedback method is also provided for reducing solids accumulation in the separation and purification equipment of such processes by measuring the biacetyl content and adjusting the aromatic diamine addition rate so that excess aromatic diamine can be minimized. A third embodiment provides a method for reversing an accumulation of solid materials during such processes, while still producing a (meth)acrylic acid ester having low biacetyl content (less than 2 ppm), by reducing or ceasing the addition rate of aromatic diamine for a period of time.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for reducing biacetyl in alpha-, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters, particularly in acrylic or methacrylic (hereinafter “(meth)acrylic”) esters, which comprise low levels of weak acid.