Elf Atochem S.a.

Nadine Colin

Marc Esch

Michel Fauconet

Norbert Richard

Dominique Guenez

Michel Maraval

An alkyl (meth)acrylate is prepared by a direct esterification (in 1) of (meth)acrylic acid by the corresponding alcohol, catalysed by H.sub.2 SO.sub.4. To the crude reaction mixture (C.sub.1) comprising the desired ester, alcohol, (meth)acrylic acid, alkyl hydrogen sulphate and traces of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, there is added (in 3) a base to neutralize the acidic species, the resulting salts passing into the aqueous phase (A.sub.1), which is separated from the organic phase (O.sub.1) containing the desired ester. The light products (L.sub.1) containing the alcohol are recovered (in 4) from the aqueous phase, and the waste waters (W.sub.2) are expelled. A hydrolysis is carried out (in 8) of the alkyl hydrogen sulphate present in the aqueous phase (A.sub.1) obtained after the separation which is carried out after neutralization (in 3), to form the alcohol and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in this phase, the acidic species resulting from the hydrolysis are neutralized by introduction of a base .into the medium, and the resulting aqueous phase (A.sub.3) is directed to the step for recovery of the alcohol. Pollution of the waters (W.sub.2), attributable to the alkyl hydrogen sulphate, is thus avoided.

Growing community of inventors

Saint-Avold, France

Nadine Colin