Distillative process for obtaining ditrimethylolpropane from solutions includes separating ditrimethylolpropane from the solution in a first distillation unit into a first tops fraction comprising low-boiling compounds having a lower boiling point than ditrimethylolpropane and a first bottoms fraction; introducing the first bottoms fraction into a second distillation unit having at least 5 theoretical plates, said unit being configured as a thin-film evaporator with a column attachment and drawing off a second tops fraction comprising intermediate-boiling compounds having a lower boiling point than ditrimethylolpropane as well as withdrawing a second bottoms fraction from the second distillation unit and introducing the second bottoms fraction into a third distillation unit having at least 4 theoretical plates, said unit being configured as a thin-film evaporator with a column attachment, such that ditrimethylolpropane is obtained as a third tops fraction and high boilers are removed as a third bottoms fraction.

Distillative process for obtaining ditrimethylolpropane from solutions includes separating ditrimethylolpropane from the solution in a first distillation unit into a first tops fraction comprising low-boiling compounds having a lower boiling point than ditrimethylolpropane and a first bottoms fraction; introducing the first bottoms fraction into a second distillation unit having at least 5 theoretical plates, said unit being configured as a thin-film evaporator with a column attachment and drawing off a second tops fraction comprising intermediate-boiling compounds having a lower boiling point than ditrimethylolpropane as well as withdrawing a second bottoms fraction from the second distillation unit and introducing the second bottoms fraction into a third distillation unit having at least 4 theoretical plates, said unit being configured as a thin-film evaporator with a column attachment, such that ditrimethylolpropane is obtained as a third tops fraction and high boilers are removed as a third bottoms fraction.

Distillative process for obtaining ditrimethylolpropane from solutions includes separating ditrimethylolpropane from the solution in a first distillation unit into a first tops fraction comprising low-boiling compounds having a lower boiling point than ditrimethylolpropane and a first bottoms fraction; introducing the first bottoms fraction into a second distillation unit having at least 5 theoretical plates, said unit being configured as a thin-film evaporator with a column attachment and drawing off a second tops fraction comprising intermediate-boiling compounds having a lower boiling point than ditrimethylolpropane as well as withdrawing a second bottoms fraction from the second distillation unit and introducing the second bottoms fraction into a third distillation unit having at least 4 theoretical plates, said unit being configured as a thin-film evaporator with a column attachment, such that ditrimethylolpropane is obtained as a third tops fraction and high boilers are removed as a third bottoms fraction.

A method for forming a blend of ethers from a blend of alcohols includes a step of reacting a hydrocarbon-containing gas with an oxygen-containing gas to form first product blend. The first product blend includes a blend of partially oxygenated compounds. The blend of partially oxygenated compounds is provided to a reactive distillation station where it is converted a second product blend. The second product blend typically includes a mixture of ethers. An apparatus implementing the method is also provided.

A method for forming a blend of ethers from a blend of alcohols includes a step of reacting a hydrocarbon-containing gas with an oxygen-containing gas to form first product blend. The first product blend includes a blend of partially oxygenated compounds. The blend of partially oxygenated compounds is provided to a reactive distillation station where it is converted a second product blend. The second product blend typically includes a mixture of ethers. An apparatus implementing the method is also provided.

A method of purifying a divinyl ether compound having an alkylene skeleton may take place with low energy and in a simplified manner. Such a method for producing a divinyl ether compound may include: reacting a compound of formula (1)

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 is an alkylene group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, with acetylene by using an alkali metal catalyst; and purifying the divinyl ether compound of formula (2)

##STR00002##

which is obtained in the reacting, without an extraction.

A method of purifying a divinyl ether compound having an alkylene skeleton may take place with low energy and in a simplified manner. Such a method for producing a divinyl ether compound may include: reacting a compound of formula (1)

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 is an alkylene group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, with acetylene by using an alkali metal catalyst; and purifying the divinyl ether compound of formula (2)

##STR00002##

which is obtained in the reacting, without an extraction.

A method of purifying a divinyl ether compound having an alkylene skeleton may take place with low energy and in a simplified manner. Such a method for producing a divinyl ether compound may include: reacting a compound of formula (1)

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 is an alkylene group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, with acetylene by using an alkali metal catalyst; and purifying the divinyl ether compound of formula (2)

##STR00002##

which is obtained in the reacting, without an extraction.

The invention provides a process for the recovery of an alkylene glycol from an aqueous stream comprising the alkylene glycol and the corresponding dialkylene glycol, said process comprising the steps of providing the aqueous stream comprising the alkylene glycol and the corresponding dialkylene glycol, providing a first solvent stream, combining said aqueous stream comprising the alkylene glycol and the corresponding dialkylene glycol with said first solvent stream and recovering at least a portion of the alkylene glycol by liquid-liquid extraction, wherein said solvent comprises an amine.

The invention provides a process for the recovery of an alkylene glycol from an aqueous stream comprising the alkylene glycol and the corresponding dialkylene glycol, said process comprising the steps of providing the aqueous stream comprising the alkylene glycol and the corresponding dialkylene glycol, providing a first solvent stream, combining said aqueous stream comprising the alkylene glycol and the corresponding dialkylene glycol with said first solvent stream and recovering at least a portion of the alkylene glycol by liquid-liquid extraction, wherein said solvent comprises an amine.