Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.

Provided is a method for producing isobutylene with a high selectivity by a dehydration reaction of isobutanol. There are provided a method for producing isobutylene by dehydration of isobutanol, in which the dehydration of isobutanol is performed in a state where at least one of an organic acid and an organic acid ester is present in a reaction system, and methods for producing methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate from the obtained isobutylene.

Provided is a method for producing isobutylene with a high selectivity by a dehydration reaction of isobutanol. There are provided a method for producing isobutylene by dehydration of isobutanol, in which the dehydration of isobutanol is performed in a state where at least one of an organic acid and an organic acid ester is present in a reaction system, and methods for producing methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate from the obtained isobutylene.

A photochemical reactor and a photo-oxidation process for manufacturing organic compounds are disclosed. The photo-oxidation generates polyfluorochloro- and/or perfluorocarboxylic acid chloride compounds, in particular halogenated acetyl chlorides, such as polyfluorochloro- and/or perfluoro acetyl chloride. The photo-oxidation process is exothermic. The reactor has a channel or a channels system, including tubes, pipes, or coils, such as coiled tubes or pipes, and, optionally, gasket installations in combination with tubes/pipes, and interior installations, such as microtubes or micropipes. The interior installations avoid formation of hot spots and provide for very good mixing of the reaction medium, such that the photochemical reactions do not only take place in part of reaction medium within a few mm around the UV lighting source. Formation of oxidizing by-products is eliminated, which may otherwise be formed during the photochemical oxidation and possibly accumulate in the photochemical reactor and/or process equipment, such as cooling traps and piping systems.

A photochemical reactor and a photo-oxidation process for manufacturing organic compounds are disclosed. The photo-oxidation generates polyfluorochloro- and/or perfluorocarboxylic acid chloride compounds, in particular halogenated acetyl chlorides, such as polyfluorochloro- and/or perfluoro acetyl chloride. The photo-oxidation process is exothermic. The reactor has a channel or a channels system, including tubes, pipes, or coils, such as coiled tubes or pipes, and, optionally, gasket installations in combination with tubes/pipes, and interior installations, such as microtubes or micropipes. The interior installations avoid formation of hot spots and provide for very good mixing of the reaction medium, such that the photochemical reactions do not only take place in part of reaction medium within a few mm around the UV lighting source. Formation of oxidizing by-products is eliminated, which may otherwise be formed during the photochemical oxidation and possibly accumulate in the photochemical reactor and/or process equipment, such as cooling traps and piping systems.

The invention relates to methods for enriching monomer content in a cycloalkane oxidation process mixed organic waste stream. In particular, the methods involve combining a biocatalyst with a mixed organic waste stream from a cycloalkane oxidation process, and enzymatically converting dimeric and/or oligomeric components of said waste stream into monomeric components. The methods may enrich the content of diacids, adipic acid, and/or other ,-difunctional C6 alkanes in the mixed organic waste stream. Additionally, the treated mixed organic waste streams may have improved burning efficiency.

A process for production of acrylic acid includes preparing a product gas mixture by a catalytic gas-phase oxidation of a C.sub.3 precursor; cooling and contacting the cooled product gas mixture in an absorption column having at least two cooling loops in countercurrent with an absorbent to obtain an absorbate A, containing the absorbent and absorbed acrylic acid; condensing a high boiler fraction of the product gas mixture in a first cooling loop; condensing a low boiler fraction of the product gas mixture in a second cooling loop; maintaining a temperature of the absorbate A in the second cooling loop at a value of at least 56 C.; removing an acid water stream comprising glyoxal from the absorption column at a side take-off located above the second cooling loop; and removing a stream F of absorbate A from the absorption column at a side take-off, located at a height of the absorption column between the first cooling loop and the second cooling loop.

A process for production of acrylic acid includes preparing a product gas mixture by a catalytic gas-phase oxidation of a C.sub.3 precursor; cooling and contacting the cooled product gas mixture in an absorption column having at least two cooling loops in countercurrent with an absorbent to obtain an absorbate A, containing the absorbent and absorbed acrylic acid; condensing a high boiler fraction of the product gas mixture in a first cooling loop; condensing a low boiler fraction of the product gas mixture in a second cooling loop; maintaining a temperature of the absorbate A in the second cooling loop at a value of at least 56 C.; removing an acid water stream comprising glyoxal from the absorption column at a side take-off located above the second cooling loop; and removing a stream F of absorbate A from the absorption column at a side take-off, located at a height of the absorption column between the first cooling loop and the second cooling loop.

A multi-tubular reactor (1) comprising a cylindrical shell (2), a plurality of reaction tubes (10) located in the shell, and a disk-and-doughnut type baffle (5), wherein the reaction tubes (10) are arranged so as to be in a triangular configuration, one or more of the reaction tubes (10) is/are a temperature-measuring reaction tube(s) provided with a thermometer (20), and a line (BL) through a central axis of the temperature-measuring reaction tube and a central axis of the shell (2) forms an angle from 0 to 15 degree with a line (CL) through the central axis of the temperature-measuring reaction tube and a central axis of at least one adjacent reaction tube next to the temperature-measuring reaction tube, in a cross section of the reactor (1) perpendicular to the central axis of the shell (2), as well as a design and production method thereof.

A multi-tubular reactor (1) comprising a cylindrical shell (2), a plurality of reaction tubes (10) located in the shell, and a disk-and-doughnut type baffle (5), wherein the reaction tubes (10) are arranged so as to be in a triangular configuration, one or more of the reaction tubes (10) is/are a temperature-measuring reaction tube(s) provided with a thermometer (20), and a line (BL) through a central axis of the temperature-measuring reaction tube and a central axis of the shell (2) forms an angle from 0 to 15 degree with a line (CL) through the central axis of the temperature-measuring reaction tube and a central axis of at least one adjacent reaction tube next to the temperature-measuring reaction tube, in a cross section of the reactor (1) perpendicular to the central axis of the shell (2), as well as a design and production method thereof.