The present invention provides a continuous process for producing ammonium sulfate crystals, wherein said process comprises: (a) feeding to a first group of crystallization sections, which crystallization sections are heat integrated in series, a first aqueous ammonium sulfate solution that contains one or more impurities; (b) feeding to a second group of crystallization sections, which crystallization sections are heat integrated in series, a second aqueous ammonium sulfate solution that contains one or more impurities; (c) crystallizing ammonium sulfate crystals in each crystallization section respectively from each of said solutions of ammonium sulfate that contain one or more impurities; (d) purging a fraction of the ammonium sulfate solution that contains one or more impurities from each of said crystallization sections; and (e) discharging ammonium sulfate crystals from each crystallization section, characterized in that: (i) both the first group of crystallization sections and the second group of crystallization sections are together heat integrated in one series of crystallization sections; wherein the first group of crystallization sections operates at higher temperature than the second group of crystallization sections; and (ii) the composition of the first aqueous ammonium sulfate solution that contains one or more impurities is different to the composition of the second aqueous ammonium sulfate solution that contains one or more impurities. Further provided is apparatus suitable for producing ammonium sulfate crystals.

The present invention relates to a compound represented by formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are disclosed as useful for treating or preventing diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, inflammation related disorders, and related diseases and conditions. The compounds are useful as agonists of the G-protein coupled receptor GPR120. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment are also included. ##STR00001##

A process for producing high-purity -caprolactam includes the following steps: (1) cyclohexanone oxime is subjected to a gas phase Beckmann rearrangement reaction; (2) the reaction product obtained from step (1) is successively subjected to gas-liquid separation, solvent removal, and light impurity removal to produce a crude caprolactam; (3) the crude caprolactam is subjected to crystallization to produce a crystallization product and a crystallization mother liquor; (4) the crystallization mother liquor is subjected to crystallization to produce a crystal slurry. At least a part of the crystal slurry is returned to step (2) and/or step (3). The purification process can obtain high-purity caprolactam through only one crystallization and one mother liquor crystallization without reducing the overall yield of caprolactam.

Methods for producing lactams from oximes by performing a Beckmann rearrangement using a silicoaluminophosphate catalyst are provided. These catalysts may be used in gas phase or liquid phase reactions to convert oximes into lactams. High conversion of oxime and high selectivity for the desired lactams are produced using the disclosed methods, including high conversion and selectivity for -caprolactam produced from cyclohexanone oxime and high conversion and selectivity for -laurolactam produced from cyclododecanone oxime.

Methods for producing lactams from oximes by performing a Beckmann rearrangement using a silicoaluminophosphate catalyst are provided. These catalysts may be used in gas phase or liquid phase reactions to convert oximes into lactams. High conversion of oxime and high selectivity for the desired lactams are produced using the disclosed methods, including high conversion and selectivity for -caprolactam produced from cyclohexanone oxime and high conversion and selectivity for -laurolactam produced from cyclododecanone oxime.

A method for preparing caprolactam by using a microreactor under Lewis acid catalysis, wherein a hydroxyl group in a cyclohexanone oxime is activated to obtain a cyclohexanone oxime sulfonates intermediate, then rearranged under Lewis acid catalysis to prepare the caprolactam. The method of this invention has a simple process and a high operation safety and selectivity, the reaction condition is mild, an efficient reaction can take place even at room temperature, the reaction time is short, the conversion of the cyclohexanone oxime can reach 100% within a short time, the selectivity of the caprolactam can reach 99%, the energy consumption is greatly reduced in the premise of maintaining a high yield, and the production cost is reduced, being an efficient and green and environmentally friendly method of for synthesizing the caprolactam.

The present invention provides an improved process for the recovery of -caprolactam from Nylon 6 comprising multi-component material, in particular multi-layered film. Further, the invention provides a plant configured to carry out the process of the invention, and the recovered e-caprolactam obtainable by the process of the invention that has a product carbon footprint of less than 2.5 kg CO.sub.2 equivalent per kg purified e-caprolactam (based on data originating from ecoinvent version 3.7.1; location: Europe).

Provided is a method for producing an oxime compound with satisfactory selectivity. Provide is a method for producing an oxime represented by the following formula (II): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are respectively the same as defined below, the method including oxidizing an amine represented by the following formula (I): ##STR00002##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group (provided that R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms), or
R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, together with the carbon atom to which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are attached, form an optionally substituted alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms [hereinafter sometimes referred to as the amine compound (I)],
with oxygen in the presence of a layered silicate.

Provided is a method for producing an oxime compound with satisfactory selectivity. Provide is a method for producing an oxime represented by the following formula (II): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are respectively the same as defined below, the method including oxidizing an amine represented by the following formula (I): ##STR00002##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group (provided that R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms), or
R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, together with the carbon atom to which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are attached, form an optionally substituted alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms [hereinafter sometimes referred to as the amine compound (I)],
with oxygen in the presence of a layered silicate.

Cyclododecanone (CDON) is prepared by epoxidizing cyclododecene (CDEN) to epoxycyclododecane (CDAN epoxide), and rearranging the CDAN epoxide to CDON to obtain a mixture comprising said CDON and cyclododecane (CDAN), wherein CDAN is separated from the CDON-containing mixture and oxidized to CDON.