US 5,177,267 AGranted

Continuous process for the recovery of 2 ethylhexanal and a tertiary amine from a mixture comprising 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl) hexanal, 2-ethylhexanal, tertiary amine and water

AssigneeEastman Kodak Company

InventorsDon L. Morris, William A. Beavers, William E. Choate

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Abstract

Disclosed is a continuous process for the manufacture of 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)hexanal wherein 2-ethylhexanal, formaldehyde and a tertiary amine are continuously fed to a reaction zone and crude product comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase containing 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)hexanal and 2-ethylhexanal is continuously removed from the reaction zone. Also disclosed are processes for (1) the azeotropic distillation of the organic phase of the crude product whereby unreacted 2-ethylhexanal is recovered and (2) the catalytic hydrogenation of the refined, organic phase of the crude product to produce 2-butyl-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol.

Claims4

Dependent claims

Continuous process for the recovery of 2-ethylhexanal and a tertiary amine from a mixture comprising ethyl 2-(hydroxymethyl)hexanal, 2-ethylhexanal, tertiary amine and water which comprises the steps of:

(1) continuously feeding the mixture to the mid section of a distillation column;
(2) continuously feeding water to the middle or upper section of the distillation column;
(3) continuously removing from the distillation column a vapor stream comprising 2-ethylhexanal, tertiary amine and water;
(4) condensing the vapor stream of step (3) to obtain a two phase liquid and separating the organic phase rich in 2-ethylhexanal and tertiary amine;
and
(5) continuously removing from the lower section of the distillation column a two phase mixture depleted in 2-ethylhexanal and tertiary amine and comprising 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)hexanal and water.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.