Basf Corporation

Basf Se Corporation

Basf Sf

R Merritt Sink

Andrew J McNabb

Karl R Gust

Joann Lanza

Dominick A Burlone

Lee Rigby

Karen A Lewno

Oxidation of an alkane to an alkanone in a process stream forms aldehyde-based impurities. A method of minimizing the aldehyde-based impurities introduces an amine into the process stream to minimize the aldehyde-based impurities. The amine interacts with the alkanone and the aldehyde-based impurities thereby forming heavy products. The method separates the heavy products from the alkanones to reduce a level of the aldehyde-based impurities. The process stream preferably includes cyclohexyl ketone as the alkanone and n-hexanal as the aldehyde-based impurity. The method is typically involved in synthesis of a caprolactam.

Method of minimizing aldehyde-based impurities in a process stream

Platinum is applied on a carrier such as graphite to form a platinum catalyst. The catalyst becomes poisoned with a metal as a result of use of the catalyst in preparation of hydroxylammonium salts. A method of regenerating the catalyst dissolves the platinum and the metal in an acid. The method also adds ammonium sulfate to the acid to precipitate the platinum. The ammonium sulfate is a by-product of a commercial process to synthesize a caprolactam. Also, the method precipitates the platinum onto the carrier for reuse in the preparation of the hydroxylammonium salts and in preparation of the caprolactam.

Method of regenerating a catalyst

Catalyst mixtures are comprised of zinc oxide, calcium carbonate or calcium oxide, and an amount of chromium (III) oxide in an amount sufficient to improve conversion and/or selectivity of cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone under cyclohexanol dehydrogenation conditions.

Dehydrogenation catalysts and methods

Solids having a tendency to cake are treated with distillation heavies that are liquid at about 60.degree. C. or less and are obtained from production of a ketone having the formula:

Anti-caking solids

A substantially non-caking solid is treated with distillation bottoms that are liquid at about 60.degree. C. or less and are obtained from production of an alcohol having the formula:

Solids that, untreated, have a tendency to cake are treated with distillation bottoms that are liquid at about 60.degree. C. or less and are obtained from production of an alcohol having the formula:

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Lake Jackson, TX, United States of America

R Merritt Sink