Dewatering process
AssigneeLucite International UK Limited
InventorWilliam David Parten
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Abstract
A formaldehyde-containing product is separated from a formalin solution containing formaldehyde, water and methanol by distilling the solution in the presence of a water entraining compound, especially methyl propionate or methyl methacrylate. The product contains substantially less water than in the solution and may be used, for example, in a further process which requires a source of formaldehyde containing a relatively low level of water, for example, the catalyzed reaction of methyl propionate with formaldehyde and methanol to produce methyl methacrylate.
Claims9
A process for separating a formaldehyde-containing product from a formaldehyde solution comprising formaldehyde, water and methanol, wherein said formaldehyde containing product contains substantially less water than said formaldehyde solution, comprising distilling said formaldehyde solution in the presence of a water entraining compound wherein said formaldehyde solution contains methanol at a molar ratio of methanol to formaldehyde of 0.3-1.5:1.
A process for the production of methyl methacrylate by the reaction of formaldehyde with methyl propionate in the presence of methanol and of a suitable catalyst, wherein said formaldehyde comprises a formaldehyde-containing product produced from a formaldehyde solution by means of distilling said formaldehyde solution in the presence of methyl propionate, wherein said formaldehyde solution contains methanol at a molar ratio of methanol to formaldehyde of 0.3-1.5:1 and wherein the formaldehyde-containing product contains substantially less water than said formaldehyde solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.