Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing low-odor n-butane by catalytic hydrogenation of a feed mixture. The aim of the invention is to provide such a method, wherein the feed material, in addition to n-butane, n-butene and up to 1 mass % formic acid and/or up to 1 mass % pentanals and/or up to 0.5 mass % pentanols, also comprises carbon monoxide. The aim is achieved by treating the feed mixture in the temperature range of 15 to 120° C. with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide in the concentration range of 0.5 to 30 mass % and subsequently subjecting the feed mixture to the catalytic hydrogenation.

Abstract: A process for the dissociation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), which includes at least a) catalytic dissociation of MTBE which is present in two streams I and VII over a catalyst to give a dissociation product II, b) separation by distillation of the dissociation product II obtained in a) into an overhead stream III containing more than 90% by mass and a bottom stream IV containing diisobutene, MTBE and more than 80% of the methanol present in the dissociation product II, c) separation by distillation of the bottom stream IV obtained in b) into a methanol-containing bottom stream V, a side stream VI containing diisobutene, methanol and MTBE and an overhead stream VII containing MTBE and methanol and d) recirculation of the overhead stream VII to a).

Abstract: Isobutene is prepared by dissociation of MTBE in the gas phase, by a) fractional distillation of an MTBE-containing stream comprising feed MTBE (I) and a recycle stream (VIII) to give an MTBE-containing overhead stream (II) and a bottom stream (III) having a boiling point higher than MTBE, b) catalytic dissociation of the overhead stream (II) obtained in step a) to give a dissociation product (IV), c) separation by distillation of the dissociation product (IV) obtained in step b) into an overhead stream (V) comprising more than 90% by mass of isobutene and a bottom stream (VI) comprising diisobutene, MTBE and more than 50% of the methanol present in the dissociation product (IV), d) fractional distillation of the bottom stream obtained in step c) under conditions under which the methanol is obtained as bottom product (VII) and more than 99% of the MTBE is obtained in the overhead product (VIII), and e) recirculation of the overhead product (VIII) to step a).

Abstract: Isobutene is prepared by a process in which a) an MTBE-containing stream I is separated by distillation into an MTBE-containing overhead stream II and a bottom stream III which comprises compounds having boiling points higher than that of MTBE; and b) the MTBE present in the overhead stream II is dissociated over a catalyst to give a dissociation product IV; wherein the stream I has a proportion of 2-methoxybutane (MSBE) of greater than 1000 ppm by mass, based on MTBE, and wherein the separation by distillation in step a) and/or the dissociation in step b) is carried out so that the dissociation product IV has a concentration of less than 1000 ppm by mass of linear butenes, based on a C4-olefin fraction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mixtures of alicyclic polycarboxylic esters with high cis content, to a process for their preparation by ring-hydrogenation of the corresponding aromatic polycarboxylic esters, and also to the use of the mixtures.

Abstract: A reactor, which is capable of accommodating a reaction in which at least three phases are present and at least one gaseous starting material and at least one liquid starting material are reacted in cocurrent over a fixed-bed catalyst to give one or more product(s), contains at least one first zone in which a catalyst is present as a fixed bed; and at least one second zone whose size corresponds to a reactor cross section and which is separated from the at least one first zone by a distributor plate provided with at least one hole and in which at least one liquid and at least one gaseous starting material enter the reactor. The distributor plate is provided with at least one static mixer which is located in the at least one hole on at least one side of the distributor plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of 3-methylbut-1-ene from a hydrocarbon stream I comprising isobutene by feeding a hydrocarbon stream II which comprises at least 70% by mass of isobutene in relation to the olefins present in the hydrocarbon stream and which has been obtained from hydrocarbon stream I or is identical to it to a process step for hydroformylation in which isobutene is hydroformylated in the presence of a rhodium catalyst, hydrogenating the aldehyde obtained from the hydroformylation of isobutene to the corresponding alcohol and preparing 3-methylbut-1-ene by water elimination from the alcohol.

Abstract: A hydrogenation catalyst is used for the catalytic hydrogenation of an ester-containing aldehyde mixture and the catalyst contains a ?-alumina having a BET surface area of from 70 to 350 m2/g as support material, and at least one component having hydrogenation activity and being selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Process for separating a dissolved complex catalyst of a metal of group 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements and/or any free organophosphorus ligand present from a nonaqueous hydroformylation reaction mixture which contains an aldehyde product and an organic solvent at least one membrane which is more permeable to the hydroformylation product than to the organophosphorus ligand, the separation being carried out under a carbon monoxide partial vapor pressure of more than 200 kPa.

Abstract: A method for the continuous preparation of an alicyclic carboxylic acid or an ester of the alicyclic carboxylic acid. A plastic which incorporates the alicyclic carboxylic acid or an ester of the alicyclic carboxylic acid. An article made of a plastic which incorporates the alicyclic carboxylic acid or an ester of the alicyclic carboxylic acid. A liquid which incorporates the alicycic carboxylic acid or an ester of the alicyclic carboxylic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for reaction of a carbonylatable compound using a metal complex catalyst comprising a metal of transition group VIII and an organophosphorus ligand and in the presence of a stabilizer based on a sterically hindered secondary amine.

Abstract: A process for preparing low-water ethanol from at least two streams of relatively water-rich ethanol that have a different water content by dewatering at membranes. The low-water ethanol can be used to prepare ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE).

Abstract: The invention relates to the hydrogenation of aromatic compounds, in particular the preparation of alicyclic polycarboxylic acids or their esters by core hydrogenation of the corresponding aromatic polycarboxylic acids or their esters, and also to catalysts suitable therefore.

Abstract: A process for the dissociation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), which includes at least a) catalytic dissociation of MTBE which is present in two streams I and VII over a catalyst to give a dissociation product II, b) separation by distillation of the dissociation product II obtained in a) into an overhead stream III containing more than 90% by mass and a bottom stream IV containing diisobutene, MTBE and more than 80% of the methanol present in the dissociation product II, c) separation by distillation of the bottom stream IV obtained in b) into a methanol-containing bottom stream V, a side stream VI containing diisobutene, methanol and MTBE and an overhead stream VII containing MTBE and methanol and d) recirculation of the overhead stream VII to a).

Abstract: Isobutene is prepared by dissociation of MTBE in the gas phase, by a) fractional distillation of an MTBE-containing stream comprising feed MTBE (I) and a recycle stream (VIII) to give an MTBE-containing overhead stream (II) and a bottom stream (III) having a boiling point higher than MTBE, b) catalytic dissociation of the overhead stream (II) obtained in step a) to give a dissociation product (IV), c) separation by distillation of the dissociation product (IV) obtained in step b) into an overhead stream (V) comprising more than 90% by mass of isobutene and a bottom stream (VI) comprising diisobutene, MTBE and more than 50% of the methanol present in the dissociation product (IV), d) fractional distillation of the bottom stream obtained in step c) under conditions under which the methanol is obtained as bottom product (VII) and more than 99% of the MTBE is obtained in the overhead product (VIII), and e) recirculation of the overhead product (VIII) to step a).

Abstract: A process for preparing low-water ethanol from at least two streams of relatively water-rich ethanol that have a different water content by dewatering at membranes. The low-water ethanol can be used to prepare ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of olefins or olefin mixtures having from 8 to 12 carbon atoms from one or more olefin(s) having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms by means of a four-stage synthesis. The four-stage synthesis comprises the steps of hydroformylation to form the aldehyde, hydrogenation to form the alcohol, elimination of water to form the 1-olefin and metathesis. The C8-C12-olefins obtained can be used, for example, for peparing plasticizer alcohols, in particular isononanol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing 1-olefins from 2-hydroxyalkanes by catalytic elimination of water under nonisomerizing conditions and to a catalyst which is particularly well-suited for this process and formally comprises yttrium oxide (Y2O3), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) and an alkali metal oxide and/or alkaline earth metal oxide.

Abstract: A hydrogenation catalyst is used for the catalytic hydrogenation of an ester-containing aldehyde mixture and the catalyst contains a ?-alumina having a BET surface area of from 70 to 350 m2/g as support material, and at least one component having hydrogenation activity and being selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Isobutene in isobutenic hydrocarbon mixtures is oligomerized over a solid acidic ion exchange resin, said acidic ion exchange resin containing, for example, sulfonic acid groups, some of whose protons have been exchanged for metal ions.