A process and a preparation plant prepares methacrolein from formaldehyde and propionaldehyde, in presence of water and a homogeneous catalyst based at least on an acid and a base. A reaction mixture is introduced into a methacrolein workup plant and separated in a first distillation column, into a first distillation mixture in a gas phase at the top and a second distillation mixture in a liquid phase at the bottom. The first distillation mixture is condensed and, in a first phase separator, the organic phase and the aqueous phase of the condensate are separated from one another. The aqueous phase is introduced into a second distillation column, that is not part of the methacrolein workup plant, and is separated into a third distillation mixture in a gas phase at the top and a fourth distillation mixture at the bottom. The third distillation mixture is introduced into the methacrolein workup plant.

Processes and systems for separating a mixture of three or more chemical components into multiple product streams each enriched in one of the components are provided herein. In some aspects, the present invention relates to processes for the separation of a chemical mixture including at least a heavy key component, an intermediate key component, and a light key component to form a product stream enriched in the light key component, a product stream enriched in the intermediate key component, and a product stream enriched in the heavy key component. Systems described herein may include one or more thermally coupled distillation columns including, for example, a dividing wall column, or a plurality of distillation columns arranged in a thermally integrated configuration.

Processes and systems for separating a mixture of three or more chemical components into multiple product streams each enriched in one of the components are provided herein. In some aspects, the present invention relates to processes for the separation of a chemical mixture including at least a heavy key component, an intermediate key component, and a light key component to form a product stream enriched in the light key component, a product stream enriched in the intermediate key component, and a product stream enriched in the heavy key component. Systems described herein may include one or more thermally coupled distillation columns including, for example, a dividing wall column, or a plurality of distillation columns arranged in a thermally integrated configuration.

Processes and systems for separating a mixture of three or more chemical components into multiple product streams each enriched in one of the components are provided herein. In some aspects, the present invention relates to processes for the separation of a chemical mixture including at least a heavy key component, an intermediate key component, and a light key component to form a product stream enriched in the light key component, a product stream enriched in the intermediate key component, and a product stream enriched in the heavy key component. Systems described herein may include one or more thermally coupled distillation columns including, for example, a dividing wall column, or a plurality of distillation columns arranged in a thermally integrated configuration.

The present disclosure provides azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions including trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) and hexafluoroacetone (HFA), and a method of forming an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising the step of combining hexafluoroacetone (HFA) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) to form an azeotrope or azeotrope-like comprising hexafluoroacetone (HFA) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) having a boiling point of about 29.84 C.0.30 C. at a pressure of about 14.40 psia0.30 psia.

The present disclosure provides azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions including trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) and hexafluoroacetone (HFA), and a method of forming an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising the step of combining hexafluoroacetone (HFA) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) to form an azeotrope or azeotrope-like comprising hexafluoroacetone (HFA) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) having a boiling point of about 29.84 C.0.30 C. at a pressure of about 14.40 psia0.30 psia.

The present disclosure provides azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions including trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) and hexafluoroacetone (HFA), and a method of forming an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising the step of combining hexafluoroacetone (HFA) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) to form an azeotrope or azeotrope-like comprising hexafluoroacetone (HFA) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) having a boiling point of about 29.84 C.0.30 C. at a pressure of about 14.40 psia0.30 psia.

The present disclosure provides azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions including trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) and hexafluoroacetone (HFA), and a method of forming an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising the step of combining hexafluoroacetone (HFA) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) to form an azeotrope or azeotrope-like comprising hexafluoroacetone (HFA) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF.sub.3I) having a boiling point of about 29.84 C.0.30 C. at a pressure of about 14.40 psia0.30 psia.

The present invention relates to a method for purifying phenol, which comprises: supplying a feed comprising phenol, acetone, hydroxyacetone and water to a distillation column at 60 C. to 95 C.; separating the feed into a first fraction, which comprises the acetone, and separates to the upper part of the distillation column and a second fraction, which comprises the phenol, and separates to the lower part of the distillation column; and recovering the first fraction and the second fraction, respectively.

The present invention relates to a method for purifying phenol, which comprises: supplying a feed comprising phenol, acetone, hydroxyacetone and water to a distillation column at 60 C. to 95 C.; separating the feed into a first fraction, which comprises the acetone, and separates to the upper part of the distillation column and a second fraction, which comprises the phenol, and separates to the lower part of the distillation column; and recovering the first fraction and the second fraction, respectively.