Abstract: A process is disclosed for the purification of an off-gas which originates from the oxidation of xylene with air in the Witten process for the preparation of dimethyl terephthalate by subjecting the off-gas to a partial condensation step to remove constituents such as dimethyl terephthalate and xylene; then contacting the off-gas with a solvent such as para-toluic acid or a mixture of para-toluic acid and methyl benzoate so as to remove contaminants such as para-xylene out of the off-gas; then contacting the off-gas with a solvent such as methyl benzoate to remove contaminants such as methyl para-toluate out of the off-gas; then contacting the off-gas with water so as to remove contaminants such as methanol out of the off-gas, and then combusting the off-gas.

Abstract: In the purification of an off-gas stream originating from a process of oxidizing a liquid mixture of para-xylene with methyl para-toluate with an oxygen-containing gas under pressure, the off-gas being contaminated with at least one of an aliphatic and an aromatic impurity, which comprises expanding the off-gas stream in an expansion turbine for generating mechanical or electrical energy so as to obtain an at least partial recovery of the energy contained in the off-gas, the improvement comprising subjecting the off-gas to at least one absorption step under pressure to remove at least one component from the off-gas and subjecting the resultant off-gas stream to combustion under a pressure of more than 3 bar prior to expanding the off-gas stream in the expansion turbine.

Abstract: A process for the production of dimethyl terephthalate from p-xylene and methanol by oxidation in a reactor, in the liquid phase with atmospheric oxygen in the presence of dissolved heavy metal compounds as a catalyst, of a mixture of p-xylene and a fraction containing predominantly methyl p-toluate, which fraction is recycled into the oxidation, to obtain an oxidation product containing primarily p-toluic acid and monomethyl terephthalate, at a temperature of 140.degree.-170.degree. C. and under a pressure of 4-8 bar; by esterification of the oxidation product with liquid and subsequently vaporized methanol brought to an elevated pressure, at a temperature of 220.degree.-280.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the production of terephthalic acid from p-xylene and methanol by way of the dimethyl terephthalate obtained by oxidation, in the liquid phase with atmospheric oxygen in the presence of dissolved heavy metal compounds as the catalyst, of a mixture of p-xylene and a fraction containing predominantly methyl p-toluate, which fraction is recycled into the oxidation, to obtain an oxidation product containing primarily p-toluic acid and monomethyl terephthalate at a temperature of 140.degree.-170.degree. C. and under a pressure of 4-8 bar; by esterification of the oxidation product in a reactor with liquid and subsequently vaporized methanol brought to an elevated pressure, at a temperature of 220.degree.-280.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the recovery and reuse of a heavy-metal oxidation catalyst solution from a high-boiling distillation residue having a cobalt content of 1-10 g/kg of residue is disclosed. The distillation residue is obtained in the production of dimethyl terephthalate by the oxidation of mixtures containing p-xylene and/or methyl p-toluate in the liquid phase with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas under an elevated pressure and at an elevated temperature in the presence of dissolved heavy-metal oxidation catalyst, by subsequent esterification of the oxidation product with methanol and by a distillatory separation of the esterification product into a fraction rich in methyl p-toluate, a fraction rich in dimethyl terephthalate, and the high-boiling distillation residue.