PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF CAPROLACTAM IN THE ABSENCE OF CATALYSTS BY CONTACTING 6-AMINOCAPROIC ACID DERIVATIVES WITH SUPERHEATED STEAM

摘要

Process to prepare epsilon -caprolactam by treating 6-aminocaproic acid or 6-aminocaproamide or mixtures comprising these compounds in the presence of superheated steam in which a gaseous mixture comprising epsilon -caprolactam and steam is obtained, wherein the process is carried out in the absence of a catalyst at a temperature between 250 and 400 DEG C and at a pressure of between 0.5 and 2 MPa. The invention also encompasses a process to prepare epsilon -caprolactam starting from 6-aminocapronitrile by performing a hydrolysis and a subsequent step as described above.