Process to prepare ε-caprolactam
AssigneeDsm N.V.
InventorsWim Buijs, Henricus F. W. Wolters, Rudolf P. M. Guit, Frank P. W. Agterberg
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Abstract
Process to prepare ε-caprolactam by treating 6-aminocaproic acid, 6-aminocaproate ester or 6-aminocaproamide or mixtures comprising at least two of these compounds in the presence of superheated steam in which a gaseous mixture comprising ε-caprolactam and steam is obtained, wherein the process is carried out in the absence of a catalyst at a temperature between 250 and 400° C. and at a pressure of between 0.5 and 2 MPa. The invention also encompasses a process to prepare ε-caprolactam starting from 6-aminocapronitrile by performing a hydrolysis and a subsequent step as described above.
Claims12
Process to prepare ε-caprolactam by treating 6-aminocaproic acid, 6-aminocaproate ester or 6-aminocaproamide or mixtures comprising at least two of these compounds in the presence of superheated steam in which a gaseous mixture comprising ε-caprolactam and steam is obtained, characterized in that the process is carried out in the absence of a catalyst at a temperature between 250 and 400° C. and at a pressure of between 0.5 and 2 MPa.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.