The invention relates to a process for the co-production of alkyl mercaptan and of dialkyl disulfide, comprising the following successive steps: a) reaction of a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alcohol in the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2S) to form a stream (M) comprising an alkyl mercaptan, water, and possibly unreacted hydrogen sulfide, b) purification of the stream (M) to obtain a stream (N) enriched in alkyl mercaptan, c) recovery of a first portion of the stream (N) including the alkyl mercaptan purified in step b), d) oxidation with sulfur of the second portion of the stream (N) of alkyl mercaptan, to form a stream (O) comprising a dialkyl disulfide, hydrogen sulfide, and possibly unreacted alkyl mercaptan, e) purification of the stream (O) to separate, on the one hand, the enriched dialkyl disulfide and, on the other hand, the hydrogen sulfide and possibly the alkyl mercaptan that has not reacted in step d), f) recycling of the hydrogen sulfide and possibly of the alkyl mercaptan isolated in step e) into the stream (M) obtained from step a), g) recovery of the dialkyl disulfide isolated in step e).

The invention relates to a process for the co-production of alkyl mercaptan and of dialkyl disulfide, comprising the following successive steps: a) reaction of a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alcohol in the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2S) to form a stream (M) comprising an alkyl mercaptan, water, and possibly unreacted hydrogen sulfide, b) purification of the stream (M) to obtain a stream (N) enriched in alkyl mercaptan, c) recovery of a first portion of the stream (N) including the alkyl mercaptan purified in step b), d) oxidation with sulfur of the second portion of the stream (N) of alkyl mercaptan, to form a stream (O) comprising a dialkyl disulfide, hydrogen sulfide, and possibly unreacted alkyl mercaptan, e) purification of the stream (O) to separate, on the one hand, the enriched dialkyl disulfide and, on the other hand, the hydrogen sulfide and possibly the alkyl mercaptan that has not reacted in step d), f) recycling of the hydrogen sulfide and possibly of the alkyl mercaptan isolated in step e) into the stream (M) obtained from step a), g) recovery of the dialkyl disulfide isolated in step e).

The invention relates to a process for continuously preparing methyl mercaptan by reacting a mixture comprising carbon compounds with sulfur and hydrogen, wherein the carbon disulfide and hydrogen sulfide compounds which form are subsequently converted to methyl mercaptan.

The invention relates to a process for continuously preparing methyl mercaptan by reacting a mixture comprising carbon compounds with sulfur and hydrogen, wherein the carbon disulfide and hydrogen sulfide compounds which form are subsequently converted to methyl mercaptan.

The invention relates to a process for continuously preparing methyl mercaptan by reacting a mixture comprising carbon compounds with sulfur and hydrogen, wherein the carbon disulfide and hydrogen sulfide compounds which form are subsequently converted to methyl mercaptan.

According to one embodiment, in producing polythiols in a manner similar to a conventional method, a polythiol having improved storage stability may be produced in a convenient manner by adjusting reaction conditions so as to prevent thiourea from remaining within products. In particular, the equivalent weight of thiourea to be used in a reaction may be adjusted to a predetermined range, thereby reducing the amount of unreacted thiourea, and thiourea may be removed once more in a sub sequent process, thereby effectively removing remaining thiourea while achieving a high yield. The polythiol thus produced does not contain residual thiourea, and thus does not show discoloration or cloudiness caused by precipitates even under prolonged storage or high-temperature conditions.

According to one embodiment, in producing polythiols in a manner similar to a conventional method, a polythiol having improved storage stability may be produced in a convenient manner by adjusting reaction conditions so as to prevent thiourea from remaining within products. In particular, the equivalent weight of thiourea to be used in a reaction may be adjusted to a predetermined range, thereby reducing the amount of unreacted thiourea, and thiourea may be removed once more in a sub sequent process, thereby effectively removing remaining thiourea while achieving a high yield. The polythiol thus produced does not contain residual thiourea, and thus does not show discoloration or cloudiness caused by precipitates even under prolonged storage or high-temperature conditions.

The present invention relates to processes for preparing for preparing 3-(methylsulfonyl)propionitrile. The processes comprise the steps of first reacting 2-chloroethyl methyl sulfide with sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide in a solvent or a solvent mixture to form 3-(methylthio)propionitrile, and then reacting the isolated 3-(methylthio)propionitrile with acetic anhydride, acetic acid, and hydrogen peroxide to form 3-(methylsulfonyl)propionitrile.

An alkyl mercaptan is prepared by reacting an aliphatic alcohol with hydrogen sulfide in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst at varying temperatures.

An alkyl mercaptan is prepared by reacting an aliphatic alcohol with hydrogen sulfide in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst at varying temperatures.