Process for the distillative separation of ethylbenzene from a mixture comprising ethylbenzene and at least one other C8 aromatic compound, comprising distilling said mixture in a distillation column in the presence of an extractive solvent, characterized in that the distillation column is operated at a sub-atmospheric pressure.

The present invention relates to a method for producing anhydrosugar alcohol, and more particularly to a method of producing anhydrosugar alcohol using a solvent including at least two components that form an azeotrope with water at atmospheric pressure and that have significantly different boiling points. The method for producing anhydrosugar alcohol according to the present invention can increase the yield of anhydrosugar alcohol by efficiently controlling the reaction temperature by use of a solvent including at least two components that form an azeotrope with water at atmospheric pressure and that have significantly different boiling points.

The present invention relates to a method for producing anhydrosugar alcohol, and more particularly to a method of producing anhydrosugar alcohol using a solvent including at least two components that form an azeotrope with water at atmospheric pressure and that have significantly different boiling points. The method for producing anhydrosugar alcohol according to the present invention can increase the yield of anhydrosugar alcohol by efficiently controlling the reaction temperature by use of a solvent including at least two components that form an azeotrope with water at atmospheric pressure and that have significantly different boiling points.

The present disclosure provides azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions including trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF.sub.3COCl), and a method of forming an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising the step of combining trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF.sub.3COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) to form an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition.

The present disclosure provides azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions including trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF.sub.3COCl), and a method of forming an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising the step of combining trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF.sub.3COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) to form an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition.

The invention provides a process for refining bio-based propylene glycol, wherein impurities having boiling points close to that of propylene glycol are separated. In this process, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 oleophilic alcohol compounds, C.sub.5-C.sub.20 alkanes and/or C.sub.4-C.sub.20 oleophilic ketone compounds are subjected to azeotropism as an azeotropic solvent together with the bio-based propylene glycol to obtain an azeotrope containing propylene glycol. Then the azeotropic solvent in the azeotrope is separated to obtain a crude propylene glycol which is further purified to obtain propylene glycol.

Disclosed is a method for removing acetaldehyde and other permanganate reducing compounds (PRCs) from a process stream in the methanol carbonylation process for making acetic acid. The method includes the steps of forming an azeotrope to reduce the boiling point of the acetaldehyde and other PRCs to facilitate separation of the acetaldehyde and other PRCs from the process. In one embodiment the azeotrope comprises butane and acetaldehyde.

Disclosed is a method for removing acetaldehyde and other permanganate reducing compounds (PRCs) from a process stream in the methanol carbonylation process for making acetic acid. The method includes the steps of forming an azeotrope to reduce the boiling point of the acetaldehyde and other PRCs to facilitate separation of the acetaldehyde and other PRCs from the process. In one embodiment the azeotrope comprises butane and acetaldehyde.

Methods for producing cyclododecasulfur are disclosed, that include the steps of: oxidizing a bromide in aqueous solution to produce a mixture of molecular bromine, tribromide, and bromide; reducing water to produce hydrogen and a hydroxide; and reacting a metallasulfur derivative with the molecular bromine, to produce cyclododecasulfur and a metallabromide derivative.

Methods for producing cyclododecasulfur are disclosed, that include the steps of: oxidizing a bromide in aqueous solution to produce a mixture of molecular bromine, tribromide, and bromide; reducing water to produce hydrogen and a hydroxide; and reacting a metallasulfur derivative with the molecular bromine, to produce cyclododecasulfur and a metallabromide derivative.