Abstract: In a process for producing hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates by the reaction of (meth)acrylic acid with an alkylene oxide, a thermally and chemically stable anion exchange resin is used as a catalyst, which resin contains a repeating unit represented by the following formula (1) as a component: wherein A is a straight chain alkylene group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, each of R1, R2, and R3 is a hydrocarbon group or an alkanol group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, which may be substituted with a hydroxyl group, X− is a counter ion coordinated with an ammonium group, where the substituent A with the ammonium group may be substituted at any position of a benzene ring, and the benzene ring may be substituted with an alkyl group or a halogen atom. The process can economically efficiently produce hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates without disadvantages such as deterioration in properties of a distillation residue.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a purification process for hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate that suppresses forming by-products such as a diester and a dimer of acrylic acid in the distillation process, and can ensure a purity of hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate, and can operate stably without causing troubles such as polymerization. In a purification process for hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate which is obtained by reacting (meth)acrylic acid and alkylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst, and removing unreacted alkylene oxide and/or (meth)acrylic acid in a reaction solution after the reaction, a distillation apparatus having a portion of a vacant column and a thin-film evaporation apparatus are used at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate which enables to control sufficiently the formation of a diester at the time of a reaction and/or at the time of distillation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a (meth)acrylic ester which enables to obtain a (meth)acrylic ester in an excellent reaction yield. The process for producing a (meth)acrylic ester uses an alcohol and an acid as raw materials and an ion-exchange resin as a catalyst, and the process is characterized by comprising a dehydration step and an esterification step, wherein the esterification reaction step follows the dehydration step in which water impregnated in the ion-exchange resin is removed by using as a dehydrating solvent at least one member selected from the group consisting of the alcohol, the acid, and the resulting ester.

Abstract: When carrying out a liquid-phase reaction by using a heterogeneous catalyst, the separation of the heterogeneous catalyst and the reaction liquid is carried out certainly and effectively. A reaction method involves carrying out a reaction in liquid phase by using a heterogeneous catalyst particle 30 in a reactor 10, and comprises the steps of: (a) allowing a reaction liquid 40 supplied into the reactor 10 from such as a supplying inlet 12 to react in the presence of the heterogeneous catalyst particle 30, and (b) passing the resultant reaction liquid 40 containing the heterogeneous catalyst particle 30 through a line screen 20 having an opening width where the heterogeneous catalyst particle 30 is not allowed to pass substantially, and then extracting the reaction liquid 40 separated from the heterogeneous catalyst particle 30 from the reactor 10 by way of such as an extracting outlet 14.

Abstract: The present invention provides a production process for a hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate which process enables to maintain the oxygen concentration of a gas phase portion of a reactor within a specific low concentration range in any stage of before adding raw materials, during the reaction, and after the reaction. The production process comprises the step of carrying out a reaction between (meth)acrylic acid and an alkylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst in order to produce the hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate, wherein an inert gas and/or a mixed gas of oxygen and an inert gas with a beforehand adjusted oxygen concentration of 0.1 to 14 vol % is used to maintain the oxygen concentration of a gas phase portion of a reactor in the range of 0.1 to 14 vol % (1) before adding the alkylene oxide or (2) during the above reaction or (3) between the completion of the above reaction and the charge for the next reaction.

Abstract: To sufficiently stabilize a hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate in spite of its easily polymerizable property, a hydroxyalkyl saturated-carboxylate and/or alkylene glycol as well as a phenol compound is added thereto.