Process for the production of anhydrous oxime from an aqueous solution

Abstract

The present invention provides a simple process for the production of anhydrous oxime by the separation of the oxime from an aqueous solution. The process is advantageous because the potential explosive hazards of current processes are eliminated and the oxime is easily separated from the aqueous phase. The process comprises the steps of: (a) vaporizing an aqueous oxime solution; (b) vaporizing a water-immiscible organic solvent for the oxime wherein the boiling point of the solvent is lower than the boiling point of the oxime; (c) combining the vapors together; (d) condensing the collected vapors; (e) removing the organic phase of the condensate from the aqueous phase; and (f) recovering anhydrous oxime from the removed organic phase. The anhydrous oxime produced by the present process if useful in applications such as isocyanate condensation and carbamate formation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.