The present invention relates to a process for distillative purification of a crude isocyanate obtained by phosgenation of the corresponding amine in a distillation apparatus under vacuum to obtain the corresponding isocyanate, characterized in that at least one liquid ring compressor is used to generate the vacuum in the distillation apparatus, a particular operating liquid is used for the at least one liquid ring compressor, the pressure p on the suction side of the at least one liquid ring compressor is 10 to 200 mbar(a), the operating temperature of the at least one liquid ring compressor is −17° C. to +15° C. and the operating liquid at the exit from the at least one liquid ring compressor has an AC value of less than 35 000 ppm, to a corresponding use of at least one liquid ring compressor for generating a vacuum in an apparatus for distillation of a crude isocyanate and to a corresponding process for operating a liquid ring compressor for providing the vacuum for distillative purification of an isocyanate obtained by phosgenation of the corresponding amine in a distillation apparatus to obtain the corresponding isocyanate.

The present invention relates to a process for distillative purification of a crude isocyanate obtained by phosgenation of the corresponding amine in a distillation apparatus under vacuum to obtain the corresponding isocyanate, characterized in that at least one liquid ring compressor is used to generate the vacuum in the distillation apparatus, a particular operating liquid is used for the at least one liquid ring compressor, the pressure p on the suction side of the at least one liquid ring compressor is 10 to 200 mbar(a), the operating temperature of the at least one liquid ring compressor is −17° C. to +15° C. and the operating liquid at the exit from the at least one liquid ring compressor has an AC value of less than 35 000 ppm, to a corresponding use of at least one liquid ring compressor for generating a vacuum in an apparatus for distillation of a crude isocyanate and to a corresponding process for operating a liquid ring compressor for providing the vacuum for distillative purification of an isocyanate obtained by phosgenation of the corresponding amine in a distillation apparatus to obtain the corresponding isocyanate.

The present invention relates to a process for distillative purification of a crude isocyanate obtained by phosgenation of the corresponding amine in a distillation apparatus under vacuum to obtain the corresponding isocyanate, characterized in that at least one liquid ring compressor is used to generate the vacuum in the distillation apparatus, a particular operating liquid is used for the at least one liquid ring compressor, the pressure p on the suction side of the at least one liquid ring compressor is 10 to 200 mbar(a), the operating temperature of the at least one liquid ring compressor is −17° C. to +15° C. and the operating liquid at the exit from the at least one liquid ring compressor has an AC value of less than 35 000 ppm, to a corresponding use of at least one liquid ring compressor for generating a vacuum in an apparatus for distillation of a crude isocyanate and to a corresponding process for operating a liquid ring compressor for providing the vacuum for distillative purification of an isocyanate obtained by phosgenation of the corresponding amine in a distillation apparatus to obtain the corresponding isocyanate.

A plant for preparing a purified isomeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate monomer from a mixture of different isomeric monomers is disclosed herein. The plant can comprise a distillation apparatus, which comprises: a) a distillation column including a structured packing, b) a source for a mixture of different isomeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate monomers, c) an evaporator, d) an overhead vapor condenser, e) optionally, an overhead vacuum system and f) a flow-controlled reflux system. The overhead vapor condenser comprises a shell and tube arrangement and is embodied so as to directly subcool the condensate to less than 47° C. The flow-controlled reflux system comprises a heater, which is embodied so as to reheat a partial stream of the condensate formed in the overhead vapor condenser up to 190° C.

A plant for preparing a purified isomeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate monomer from a mixture of different isomeric monomers is disclosed herein. The plant can comprise a distillation apparatus, which comprises: a) a distillation column including a structured packing, b) a source for a mixture of different isomeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate monomers, c) an evaporator, d) an overhead vapor condenser, e) optionally, an overhead vacuum system and f) a flow-controlled reflux system. The overhead vapor condenser comprises a shell and tube arrangement and is embodied so as to directly subcool the condensate to less than 47° C. The flow-controlled reflux system comprises a heater, which is embodied so as to reheat a partial stream of the condensate formed in the overhead vapor condenser up to 190° C.

A plant for preparing a purified isomeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate monomer from a mixture of different isomeric monomers is disclosed herein. The plant can comprise a distillation apparatus, which comprises: a) a distillation column including a structured packing, b) a source for a mixture of different isomeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate monomers, c) an evaporator, d) an overhead vapor condenser, e) optionally, an overhead vacuum system and f) a flow-controlled reflux system. The overhead vapor condenser comprises a shell and tube arrangement and is embodied so as to directly subcool the condensate to less than 47° C. The flow-controlled reflux system comprises a heater, which is embodied so as to reheat a partial stream of the condensate formed in the overhead vapor condenser up to 190° C.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an isocyanate comprising the steps of (A) reacting an amine with a stoichiometric excess of phosgene using an aromatic solvent of formula C.sub.6H.sub.6-XCl.sub.X, wherein X=1 or 2, (a) as a diluent during the reaction and/or (b) as a means for cooling the reaction mixture formed from the reaction of the amine with phosgene (so-called quench) to obtain (optionally after a decompression) a liquid product mixture comprising the isocyanate and the aromatic solvent employed and a gaseous product mixture containing phosgene and hydrogen chloride; followed by (B) isolating the isocyanate from the liquid product mixture obtained in step (A) comprising the step of a final distillation in which the isolated isocyanate is obtained as a product stream, wherein in the final distillation or in a distillation step upstream of the final distillation at least one stream comprising aromatic solvent of formula C.sub.6H.sub.6-YCl.sub.Y, wherein Y=X+1, is (at intervals or continuously) discharged such that the isolated isocyanate has a mass fraction, based on its total mass, of aromatic solvent of formula C.sub.6H.sub.6-YCl.sub.Y in the range from 0.0 ppm to 9.9 ppm, preferably 0.0 ppm to 5.0 ppm, particularly preferably 0.0 ppm to 3.0 ppm.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an isocyanate comprising the steps of (A) reacting an amine with a stoichiometric excess of phosgene using an aromatic solvent of formula C.sub.6H.sub.6-XCl.sub.X, wherein X=1 or 2, (a) as a diluent during the reaction and/or (b) as a means for cooling the reaction mixture formed from the reaction of the amine with phosgene (so-called quench) to obtain (optionally after a decompression) a liquid product mixture comprising the isocyanate and the aromatic solvent employed and a gaseous product mixture containing phosgene and hydrogen chloride; followed by (B) isolating the isocyanate from the liquid product mixture obtained in step (A) comprising the step of a final distillation in which the isolated isocyanate is obtained as a product stream, wherein in the final distillation or in a distillation step upstream of the final distillation at least one stream comprising aromatic solvent of formula C.sub.6H.sub.6-YCl.sub.Y, wherein Y=X+1, is (at intervals or continuously) discharged such that the isolated isocyanate has a mass fraction, based on its total mass, of aromatic solvent of formula C.sub.6H.sub.6-YCl.sub.Y in the range from 0.0 ppm to 9.9 ppm, preferably 0.0 ppm to 5.0 ppm, particularly preferably 0.0 ppm to 3.0 ppm.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an isocyanate comprising the steps of (A) reacting an amine with a stoichiometric excess of phosgene using an aromatic solvent of formula C.sub.6H.sub.6-XCl.sub.X, wherein X=1 or 2, (a) as a diluent during the reaction and/or (b) as a means for cooling the reaction mixture formed from the reaction of the amine with phosgene (so-called quench) to obtain (optionally after a decompression) a liquid product mixture comprising the isocyanate and the aromatic solvent employed and a gaseous product mixture containing phosgene and hydrogen chloride; followed by (B) isolating the isocyanate from the liquid product mixture obtained in step (A) comprising the step of a final distillation in which the isolated isocyanate is obtained as a product stream, wherein in the final distillation or in a distillation step upstream of the final distillation at least one stream comprising aromatic solvent of formula C.sub.6H.sub.6-YCl.sub.Y, wherein Y=X+1, is (at intervals or continuously) discharged such that the isolated isocyanate has a mass fraction, based on its total mass, of aromatic solvent of formula C.sub.6H.sub.6-YCl.sub.Y in the range from 0.0 ppm to 9.9 ppm, preferably 0.0 ppm to 5.0 ppm, particularly preferably 0.0 ppm to 3.0 ppm.

The embodiments provide processes for preparing a diisocyanate composition and an optical lens, which are excellent in yield and quality with mitigated environmental problems by using a solid triphosgene composition instead of phosgene gas in the process of preparing a diisocyanate from a diamine through a hydrochloride thereof and by controlling the content of a decomposition product in a triphosgene composition, the b* value according to CIE color coordinate of the triphosgene composition in an organic solvent, or the content of water in the triphosgene.