Abstract: Polymerization process providing for the transferring of heat from fluid reaction mixtures containing a polymerizable monomer and an active polymerization catalyst by preparing a prepolymerization mixture and then cooling the prepolymerization mixture using a planar spiral heat exchanger before further processing of the prepolymerization mixture or the polymer product contained therein. An apparatus for conducting polymerization reactions wherein fluid mixtures having a polymerizable monomer and an active polymerization catalyst are cooled without clogging comprising a spiral heat exchanger.

Abstract: An improved process for the recovery of ammonia and sulphur dioxide from a by-product mixture containing an ammonium salt of sulphuric acid obtained as a by-product in the preparation of .epsilon.-caprolactam or cyclohexanone oxime. The by-product mixture is reacted, in finely divided form and at a temperature of from 700.degree. to 950.degree. C., with gases obtained from the combustion of a fuel in a controlled amount of oxygen, and ammonia and sulphur dioxide are thereafter separated from the resulting reaction mixture. The amount of oxygen is controlled to be less than the theoretical additional amount that would be required to convert the nitrogen, sulphur, hydrogen and carbon contained in the by-product mixture and fuel into, respectively, N.sub.2, SO.sub.2, H.sub.2 O and CO.sub.2.

Abstract: An improvement of processes for the recovery of .epsilon.-caprolactam wherein a neutralized sulfuric acid is subjected to thermal decomposition, forming a gaseous mixture of ammonia and sulfur dioxide which is thereafter converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium sulfite and/or ammonium hydrogen sulfite which is then used for neutralization of the reaction mixture of lactam and sulfuric acid.

Abstract: A process for removing sulfuric acid from reaction mixtures containing sulfuric acid and .epsilon.-caprolactam by treating the sulfuric acid with ammonia and sulfur dioxide to produce ammonium sulfate salts and reducing the ammonium sulfate salts to ammonia and sulfur dioxide.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing a hydroxyl-amine salt by reduction of a solution of nitrate ions or nitrogen monoxide. Dissolved molybdenum in amounts as low as about two milligrams per liter of nitrate/nitrogen monoxide solution are known to interfere with the reduction reaction. The present invention provides a simple method of reducing molybdenum contamination, and hence enhancing the efficiency of the reduction reaction. Dissolved molybdenum is removed from the nitrate/nitrogen monoxide solution by coprecipitation with a complex iron-ammonium phosphate. If chromium is present, it will also be removed by this coprecipitation.

Abstract: Process for carrying out nitrosation reactions and diazotization reactions by reacting the concerning compound with a nitrite in the presence of an acid wherein ammonium-nitrite is used as the nitrite.

Abstract: Organic sulfoxides such as dimethylsulfoxide are used in the transformation of alicyclic ketoximes into the corresponding lactams according to the Beckmann rearrangement in the presence of a strong acid cation exchange resin as disclosed. Thus cyclohexanone is dissolved in DMSO and contacted with a sulfonated copolymer of styrene and divinyl benzene to produce caprolactam in a continuous process.