CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR RECOVERY OF SOLVENT FROM GASES EXHAUSTING FROM AN AMMONIUM SULFATE PRODUCTION PROCESS

摘要

The present invention provides a continuous process for the production of ammonium sulfate in combination with caprolactam, said process comprising, a) neutralizing with ammonia a mixture comprising caprolactam and sulfuric acid to form an aqueous ammonium sulfate phase and an aqueous crude caprolactam phase; b) separating the aqueous ammonium sulfate phase from the aqueous crude caprolactam phase; c) extracting into an organic solvent caprolactam present in the aqueous ammonium sulfate phase to form a caprolactam-containing organic phase and a purified aqueous ammonium sulfate phase; d) stripping organic solvent from the purified aqueous ammonium sulfate phase; and e) withdrawing organic solvent-containing gas produced in, or subsequent to, any one of steps c) and d), characterized in that f) organic solvent is recovered from said organic solvent-containing gas.