Process for preparing acrylic acid purified by crystallization from hydroxypropionic acid and apparatus therefore

US8198481B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Evonik Stockhausen GmbH · US

Inventors

• Franz-Felix Kuppinger · Marl, DE
• Axel Hengstermann · Senden, DE
• Guido Stochniol · Haltern am See, DE
• Gunther Bub · Marl, DE
• Jurgen Mosler · Marl, DE
• Andreas Sabbagh · Dülmen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 22, 2007
• Grant date: Jun 12, 2012
• Expiry date: Oct 1, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/10
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of acrylic acid and a process for the preparation of polyacrylic acid comprising the process steps: (a1) preparation of 3-hydroxypropionic acid from a biological material to give a fluid, in particular aqueous, phase containing 3-hydroxypropionic acid; (a2) dehydration of the 3-hydroxypropionic acid to give a fluid, in particular aqueous, solution containing acrylic acid; (a3) purification of the solution containing acrylic acid by a suspension crystallization or a layer crystallization to give a purified phase; and corresponding devices for carrying out these processes, and acrylic acid and polyacrylates. The invention is distinguished in that acrylic acid and polyacrylates can thereby be prepared efficiently, inexpensively, and sustainably with simple means and with a high purity on the basis of regenerable raw materials.