Patent · US Expired

Separation processes

US6036865A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
89References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 15, 1998
Grant dateMar 14, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 15, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC07D201/16
  • WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

This invention relates to a process for separating epsilon caprolactam from a feed mixture comprising epsilon caprolactam and one or more epsilon caprolactam isomers selected from the group consisting of 4-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone, 5-methyl-2-piperdinone, 3-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone and 3-methyl-2-piperdinone which process comprises contacting under adsorption conditions said mixture with an adsorbent, selectively adsorbing said epsilon caprolactam isomers to substantial exclusion of said epsilon caprolactam, removing the non-adsorbed portion of the feed mixture from contact with the adsorbent, and thereafter recovering high purity epsilon caprolactam. The epsilon caprolactam isomers can be recovered by desorption under desorption conditions. The process can be conducted in a batch or semi-batch manner or in a continuous manner using moving bed or simulated moving bed technologies.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.