Process for producing epsilon-caprolactam and catalyst for the production

A process for producing an ε-caprolactam, which comprises the steps of:

• subjecting a cyclohexanone oxime to Beckmann rearrangement reaction in a gas phase in the presence of a solid catalyst, to obtain a reaction mixture containing the solid catalyst;
• separating the solid catalyst from the reaction mixture;
• treating the separated solid catalyst with an aqueous solution containing an ammonia and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium compounds and lower alkylamines;
• and
• recycling the treated solid catalyst to the reaction step.

A process for producing a zeolite, the process comprising the steps of:

• subjecting a silicon compound to hydrothermal synthesis reaction to obtain a crystal;
• calcining the crystal;
• and
• treating the calcined crystal with an aqueous solution containing an ammonia and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium compounds and lower alkylamines, to obtain the zeolite.