The present invention is directed to processes for producing isocyanates and isocyanate derivatives from epoxide and carbon monoxide reagents. In preferred embodiments, the processes include a step for providing carbonylation of an epoxide reagent with a carbon monoxide reagent to produce a beta-lactone intermediate. In certain preferred embodiments, further carbonylation of a beta-lactone intermediate produces a succinic anhydride intermediate. The processes of the present invention include steps for rearranging beta-lactone intermediates and/or succinic anhydride intermediates to produce isocyanate products and/or isocyanate derivatives. In certain preferred embodiments, the isocyanate products may be copolymerized with polyol oligomers to provide polyurethane products.

The invention relates to a cleaning device for separating an organic isocyanate produced by the reaction of an organic amine with a stoichiometric excess of phosgene in the gas phase from the gaseous raw product obtained in the reaction, said device comprising a first separating body comprising at least one raw product supply line for a gaseous raw product flow containing at least the isocyanate, hydrogen chloride and non-reacted phosgene, a first liquid supply line for a liquid flow containing at least one quench liquid, and a first liquid discharge line for a liquid flow containing at least part of the quench liquid and part of the isocyanate, a first gas line for transporting a gas flow containing at least hydrogen chloride, evaporated quench liquid and phosgene leading away from the first separating body. The invention is characterized in that at least one addition body for directly introducing at least one cooling fluid for an at least partial condensation and/or absorption of the gas flow that can be guided via the first gas line is associated with the first gas line.

The invention relates to a cleaning device for separating an organic isocyanate produced by the reaction of an organic amine with a stoichiometric excess of phosgene in the gas phase from the gaseous raw product obtained in the reaction, said device comprising a first separating body comprising at least one raw product supply line for a gaseous raw product flow containing at least the isocyanate, hydrogen chloride and non-reacted phosgene, a first liquid supply line for a liquid flow containing at least one quench liquid, and a first liquid discharge line for a liquid flow containing at least part of the quench liquid and part of the isocyanate, a first gas line for transporting a gas flow containing at least hydrogen chloride, evaporated quench liquid and phosgene leading away from the first separating body. The invention is characterized in that at least one addition body for directly introducing at least one cooling fluid for an at least partial condensation and/or absorption of the gas flow that can be guided via the first gas line is associated with the first gas line.

The invention relates to a method for producing isocyanates, according to which exhaust flows provided for the combustion are guided through an adsorption device before being supplied into the exhaust gas combustion process, and are thereby depleted of solvent, the adsorption device comprising at least two adsorption units connected in parallel, which are alternately (i) exposed to the at least one exhaust flow and (ii) regenerated with water vapor, where, during method step (i), an exhaust flow depleted of solvent is obtained, and during method step (ii), a flow containing water and solvent is obtained, the solvent proportion of which is recycled into a method for producing isocyanates.

The invention relates to a method for producing isocyanates, according to which exhaust flows provided for the combustion are guided through an adsorption device before being supplied into the exhaust gas combustion process, and are thereby depleted of solvent, the adsorption device comprising at least two adsorption units connected in parallel, which are alternately (i) exposed to the at least one exhaust flow and (ii) regenerated with water vapor, where, during method step (i), an exhaust flow depleted of solvent is obtained, and during method step (ii), a flow containing water and solvent is obtained, the solvent proportion of which is recycled into a method for producing isocyanates.

The invention relates to a method for producing isocyanates, according to which exhaust flows provided for the combustion are guided through an adsorption device before being supplied into the exhaust gas combustion process, and are thereby depleted of solvent, the adsorption device comprising at least two adsorption units connected in parallel, which are alternately (i) exposed to the at least one exhaust flow and (ii) regenerated with water vapour, where, during method step (i), an exhaust flow depleted of solvent is obtained, and during method step (ii), a flow containing water and solvent is obtained, the solvent proportion of which is recycled into a method for producing isocyanates.

The invention relates to a method for producing isocyanates, according to which exhaust flows provided for the combustion are guided through an adsorption device before being supplied into the exhaust gas combustion process, and are thereby depleted of solvent, the adsorption device comprising at least two adsorption units connected in parallel, which are alternately (i) exposed to the at least one exhaust flow and (ii) regenerated with water vapour, where, during method step (i), an exhaust flow depleted of solvent is obtained, and during method step (ii), a flow containing water and solvent is obtained, the solvent proportion of which is recycled into a method for producing isocyanates.