A process for recovering methacrolein and methanol from methacrolein dimethyl acetal. The method comprises a step of contacting a mixture comprising methyl methacrylate and methacrolein dimethyl acetal with a strong acid ion exchange resin in the presence of water. The mixture comprises no more than 0.2 wt % sodium methacrylate.

A continuous flow process and system for depolymerizing plastic. A heterogeneous mixture of solid plastic particles, a solvent, and a catalyst are pumped continuously through a heating zone at a flow rate resulting in a particle speed sufficient to keep the plastic particles in suspension. The heterogeneous mixture is heated in the heating zone and maintained in a hold zone to complete depolymerization of the mixture into a homogeneous solution containing a liquefied reaction product. The homogeneous solution is cooled to solidify and precipitate a solid reaction product. The solid reaction product is separated from the solvent to be recycled. Contaminants are removed from the solvent, and the solvent is recirculated for use as a constituent of the heterogeneous mixture.

A continuous flow process and system for depolymerizing plastic. A heterogeneous mixture of solid plastic particles, a solvent, and a catalyst are pumped continuously through a heating zone at a flow rate resulting in a particle speed sufficient to keep the plastic particles in suspension. The heterogeneous mixture is heated in the heating zone and maintained in a hold zone to complete depolymerization of the mixture into a homogeneous solution containing a liquefied reaction product. The homogeneous solution is cooled to solidify and precipitate a solid reaction product. The solid reaction product is separated from the solvent to be recycled. Contaminants are removed from the solvent, and the solvent is recirculated for use as a constituent of the heterogeneous mixture.

A method for producing a methanol precursor, methyl trifluoroacetate, having high-purity includes the steps of (a) preparing methyl bisulfate by mixing a catalyst with an acid solution comprising a sulfur-containing acid to provide a first mixture and supplying methane gas to the first mixture to prepare the methyl bisulfate; and (b) preparing methyl trifluoroacetate (CF.sub.3CO.sub.2CH.sub.3) by adding trifluoroacetic acid (CF.sub.3CO.sub.2H) to the first mixture including the methyl bisulfate to provide a second mixture and distilling the second mixture under heating to prepare, separate and purify the methyl trifluoroacetate (CF.sub.3CO.sub.2CH.sub.3). Methanol may be produced by adding water to the methyl trifluoroacetate (CF.sub.3CO.sub.2CH.sub.3). A methyl ester represented by Formula 2 below may be produced by adding a carboxylic acid represented by Formula 1 below to the methyl trifluoroacetate (CF.sub.3CO.sub.2CH.sub.3):
R.sub.1CO.sub.2H  (1), where R.sub.1 is selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl groups,
R.sub.1CO.sub.2CH.sub.3  (2), where R.sub.1 is as defined in Formula 1.

A method for producing a methanol precursor, methyl trifluoroacetate, having high-purity includes the steps of (a) preparing methyl bisulfate by mixing a catalyst with an acid solution comprising a sulfur-containing acid to provide a first mixture and supplying methane gas to the first mixture to prepare the methyl bisulfate; and (b) preparing methyl trifluoroacetate (CF.sub.3CO.sub.2CH.sub.3) by adding trifluoroacetic acid (CF.sub.3CO.sub.2H) to the first mixture including the methyl bisulfate to provide a second mixture and distilling the second mixture under heating to prepare, separate and purify the methyl trifluoroacetate (CF.sub.3CO.sub.2CH.sub.3). Methanol may be produced by adding water to the methyl trifluoroacetate (CF.sub.3CO.sub.2CH.sub.3). A methyl ester represented by Formula 2 below may be produced by adding a carboxylic acid represented by Formula 1 below to the methyl trifluoroacetate (CF.sub.3CO.sub.2CH.sub.3):
R.sub.1CO.sub.2H  (1), where R.sub.1 is selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl groups,
R.sub.1CO.sub.2CH.sub.3  (2), where R.sub.1 is as defined in Formula 1.

Suggested are 1,2-alkanediols of formula (I) HOCH.sub.2CH(OH)R.sup.1 in which R.sup.1 stands for an alkyl radical having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, said diols being substantially free of lactones and/or peroxides.

Suggested are 1,2-alkanediols of formula (I) HOCH.sub.2CH(OH)R.sup.1 in which R.sup.1 stands for an alkyl radical having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, said diols being substantially free of lactones and/or peroxides.

A process for recovering methacrolein and methanol from methacrolein dimethyl acetal. The method comprises a step of contacting a mixture comprising methyl methacrylate and methacrolein dimethyl acetal with a strong acid ion exchange resin in the presence of water. The mixture comprises no more than 0.2 wt % sodium methacrylate.

Provided are processes and products of manufacture that provide a green solution to the hydrolysis of C8/C10 methyl ester to fatty acids. Provided are reactive distillation processes for producing an aliphatic acid and an alcohol as hydrolysis products. Provided are processes and products of manufacture encompassing the hydrolysis of fatty acid alkyl esters to an aliphatic acid and an alcohol by a reactive distillation process. Provided are processes and products of manufacture useful for equilibrium-limited reactions and for the separation of azeotropic mixtures. Provided are reactive distillation products of manufacture and processes for alkyl alkanoate hydrolysis comprising a reaction column comprising a rectifying rectifying zone for further distillation, a reaction zone, and a stripping zone wherein products are separated from reaction mixtures, where a water stream and fatty acid alkyl ester stream can be fed into the reaction section.

Provided are processes and products of manufacture that provide a green solution to the hydrolysis of C8/C10 methyl ester to fatty acids. Provided are reactive distillation processes for producing an aliphatic acid and an alcohol as hydrolysis products. Provided are processes and products of manufacture encompassing the hydrolysis of fatty acid alkyl esters to an aliphatic acid and an alcohol by a reactive distillation process. Provided are processes and products of manufacture useful for equilibrium-limited reactions and for the separation of azeotropic mixtures. Provided are reactive distillation products of manufacture and processes for alkyl alkanoate hydrolysis comprising a reaction column comprising a rectifying rectifying zone for further distillation, a reaction zone, and a stripping zone wherein products are separated from reaction mixtures, where a water stream and fatty acid alkyl ester stream can be fed into the reaction section.