High yield process for the production of methacrylic acid esters

A method for producing methacrylic acid esters comprising the steps of;

• a. hydrolyzing acetone cyanohydrin with sulfuric acid to produce a hydrolysis mixture comprising 2-methacrylamide, .alpha.-sulfatoisobutyramide, .alpha.-hydroxyisobutyramide, and methacrylic acid, wherein the sum of the total moles of these components derived from ACH is maximized;
• b. esterifying the hydrolysis mixture with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl alcohol to produce an esterification mixture comprising a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl methacrylate, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl .alpha.-hydroxyisobutyrate, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl .beta.-C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkoxyisobutyrate, and a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl .alpha.-C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkoxyisobutyrate;
• c. separating the esterification mixture into an aqueous fraction, a first organic fraction comprising the C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl methacrylate, and a second organic fraction comprising the C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl .alpha.-hydroxyisobutyrate, the C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl .beta.-C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkoxyisobutyrate, and the C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl .alpha.-C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkoxyisobutyrate.
• d. dehydrating the isobutyrate-containing components of the second organic fraction to produce a recycle mixture comprising a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl alcohol, and water;
• e. combining the recycle mixture with either the hydrolysis mixture or the esterification mixture.