Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for preparing at least one aromatic amine by hydrogenation of at least one nitroaromatic by means of hydrogen, where a liquid phase comprising at least the aromatic amine and a gas phase comprising at least hydrogen are present, in the presence of a catalyst suspended in the liquid phase at a temperature of from 50 to 250° C. and a pressure of from 5 to 50 bar, wherein the pressure in the reactor is kept essentially constant by continuous adaptation of the amount of hydrogen fed to the reactor, the total amount of hydrogen fed to the reactor is monitored and the introduction of the at least one nitroaromatic is interrupted if the hydrogen uptake in the reactor is not at least 50 mol % of the amount of hydrogen required for stoichiometric reaction of the at least one nitroaromatic to form the at least one aromatic amine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing isocyanates by reacting the corresponding amines with phosgene in the liquid phase, if appropriate in the presence of at least one inert medium, in which the amine and the phosgene are first mixed in a mixing chamber (1) to give a reaction mixture and the reaction mixture is fed to a reactor, the amine being added through an orifice (3) arranged coaxially to the mixing chamber (1) and the phosgene being added through feed orifices (5) in at least two planes (7, 9) arranged at right angles to the axis (11) of the mixing chamber (1), or the phosgene being added through the orifice (3) arranged coaxially to the mixing chamber and the amine through the feed orifices (5) in at least two planes (7, 9) arranged at right angles to the axis (11) of the mixing chamber (1). At least one plane (9) is arranged upstream and at least one plane (7) downstream of the orifice (3) arranged coaxially to the mixing chamber (1) in main flow direction of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of isocyanates, preferably diisocyanates and polyisocyanates of the diphenylmethane series (MDI), by reacting an amine with phosgene in the liquid phase or in the gas phase to form the corresponding isocyanates, subsequent removal of the solvent in at least two steps to obtain at least two solvent streams, individual treatment of the at least two solvent streams, and recirculation of at least a portion of the solvent streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the continuous preparation of toluenediamine by liquid-phase hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene by means of hydrogen in the presence of a suspended, nickel-comprising catalyst in a reactor with a product isolation unit downstream of the reactor to give a product output from the reactor comprising a liquid phase comprising toluenediamine and dinitrotoluene, in which the nickel-comprising catalyst is suspended, wherein the concentration of dinitrotoluene in the liquid phase of the product output from the reactor in the region between the reactor and the downstream product isolation unit is set to a value in the range from 1 to 200 ppm by weight, based on the total weight of the liquid phase of the product output from the reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of measuring entry of water and resulting corrosion in plants for producing isocyanates by reacting phosgene with one or more primary amines in a solvent. The invention further relates to an apparatus for producing such isocyanates, in the work-up section of which probes for monitoring corrosion are arranged in defined places.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for preparing at least one aromatic amine by hydrogenation of at least one nitroaromatic by means of hydrogen, where a liquid phase comprising at least the aromatic amine and a gas phase comprising at least hydrogen are present, in the presence of a catalyst suspended in the liquid phase at a temperature of from 50 to 250° C. and a pressure of from 5 to 50 bar, wherein the pressure in the reactor is kept essentially constant by continuous adaptation of the amount of hydrogen fed to the reactor, the total amount of hydrogen fed to the reactor is monitored and the introduction of the at least one nitroaromatic is interrupted if the hydrogen uptake in the reactor is not at least 50 mol % of the amount of hydrogen required for stoichiometric reaction of the at least one nitroaromatic to form the at least one aromatic amine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for working up a stream (3) comprising from 5 to 90% by weight of isocyanate by hydrolysis of the isocyanate by means of water in a reactor (1), in which the isocyanate-comprising stream (3) is introduced to the reactor (1) via a first inlet and the water is introduced via a second inlet, the isocyanate is reacted with the water in the reactor to form the corresponding: diamine, a diamine-comprising product mixture is taken off from the reactor (1) via a product outlet, wherein part of the product mixture is recirculated to the reactor and the isocyanate-comprising stream (3) is introduced into the recirculated product stream (7), with the isocyanate-comprising stream (3) being introduced continuously without interruption and the molar ratio of H-acid compounds of the hydrolyzate to isocyanate groups of the stream introduced being kept in the range from 10 to 200.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of measuring entry of water and resulting corrosion in plants for producing isocyanates by reacting phosgene with one or more primary amines in a solvent. The invention further relates to an apparatus for producing such isocyanates, in the work-up section of which probes for monitoring corrosion are arranged in defined places.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of isocyanates, preferably diisocyanates and polyisocyanates of the diphenylmethane series (MDI), by reacting an amine with phosgene in the liquid phase or in the gas phase to form the corresponding isocyanates, subsequent removal of the solvent in at least two steps to obtain at least two solvent streams, individual treatment of the at least two solvent streams, and re-circulation of at least a portion of the solvent streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the continuous preparation of toluenediamine by liquid-phase hydrogenation of dinitrotoluene by means of hydrogen in the presence of a suspended, nickel-comprising catalyst in a reactor with a product isolation unit downstream of the reactor to give a product output from the reactor comprising a liquid phase comprising toluenediamine and dinitrotoluene, in which the nickel-comprising catalyst is suspended, wherein the concentration of dinitrotoluene in the liquid phase of the product output from the reactor in the region between the reactor and the downstream product isolation unit is set to a value in the range from 1 to 200 ppm by weight, based on the total weight of the liquid phase of the product output from the reactor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing isocyanates by reacting the corresponding amines with phosgene in the liquid phase, if appropriate in the presence of at least one inert medium, in which the amine and the phosgene are first mixed in a mixing chamber (1) to give a reaction mixture and the reaction mixture is fed to a reactor, the amine being added through an orifice (3) arranged coaxially to the mixing chamber (1) and the phosgene being added through feed orifices (5) in at least two planes (7, 9) arranged at right angles to the axis (11) of the mixing chamber (1), or the phosgene being added through the orifice (3) arranged coaxially to the mixing chamber and the amine through the feed orifices (5) in at least two planes (7, 9) arranged at right angles to the axis (11) of the mixing chamber (1). At least one plane (9) is arranged upstream and at least one plane (7) downstream of the orifice (3) arranged coaxially to the mixing chamber (1) in main flow direction of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A process is proposed for distillatively removing dinitrotoluene from process wastewater from the preparation of dinitrotoluene by nitrating toluene with nitrating acid, which comprises basifying the process wastewater to a pH of >8.5, feeding it to a stripping column in the upper region thereof and stripping it with steam in countercurrent to obtain a vapor stream laden with dinitrotoluene and a bottom stream depleted in dinitrotoluene compared to the process wastewater used.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing polyisocyanates by reacting organic amines with phosgene, wherein the reaction is carried out in at least three stages, with the first stage being carried out in a mixing apparatus, the second stage in at least one residence apparatus and the third stage in at least one separation apparatus and the pressure in each successive stage being lower than that in the previous stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing aromatic amines by hydrogenation of nitroaromatics in the presence of catalysts, in which a fluid reaction mixture which comprises amines and from which the catalysts are separated off is formed in a reactor. After the catalysts have been separated off, a measurement of the absorption of UV/VIS radiation by the reaction mixture is carried out to determine the concentration of nitro and nitroso compounds in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing aromatic amines by hydrogenation of nitroaromatics in the presence of catalysts, in which a fluid reaction mixture which comprises amines and from which the catalysts are separated off is formed in a reactor. After the catalysts have been separated off, a measurement of the absorption of UV/VIS radiation by the reaction mixture is carried out to determine the concentration of nitro and nitroso compounds in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the partial or complete separation of a mixture comprising hydrogen chloride and phosgene, possibly solvents and possibly low boilers and inerts as are typically obtained in the preparation of isocyanates by reaction of amines with phosgene, which comprises firstly carrying out a partial or complete condensation of phosgene, then a distillation or stripping step in a column to remove the hydrogen chloride from the bottom product phosgene and subsequently a scrub of the top product hydrogen chloride by means of the process solvent to absorb the phosgene in the process solvent. An after-purification by means of adsorption on activated carbon or by another suitable method can subsequently be carried out to remove solvent residues.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing isocyanates by reaction of amines with phosgene in the presence of inert organic solvents in a reactor and subsequent work-up of the reaction mixture leaving the reactor, wherein the solvent is separated off in a two-stage or multistage, preferably two-stage, distillation process in which the solvent is separated off at a pressure of 0.1-15 bar in a first apparatus and at 1-900 mbar in a second apparatus or further apparatuses, with the heat of condensation of the solvent vapor from the first apparatus being used for partial or complete vaporization of solvent in the second apparatus.

Abstract: A process is proposed for distillatively removing dinitrotoluene from process wastewater from the preparation of dinitrotoluene by nitrating toluene with nitrating acid, which comprises basifying the process wastewater to a pH of >8.5, feeding it to a stripping column in the upper region thereof and stripping it with steam in countercurrent to obtain a vapor stream laden with dinitrotoluene and a bottom stream depleted in dinitrotoluene compared to the process wastewater used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for hydrogenating aromatic nitro compounds to the corresponding amines in the presence of hydrogenation catalysts, which comprises using hydrogenation catalysts in which nickel and platinum are present on a support in the form of an alloy having an atomic ratio of nickel to platinum in the alloy of between 30:70 and 70:30.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising nickel on a TiO2 support is obtainable by coprecipitation of nickel and at least one further metal selected from among Si, Zr, Hf, alkaline earth metals, Y, La and Ce, and optionally at least one dopant metal selected from groups 5 to 11 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, from a solution in which the corresponding metal salts are present onto a particulate TiO2 support, subsequent drying, calcination and reduction and optionally passivation to give the nickel-containing catalyst. It is used, in particular, for the hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds.