Treatment of formaldehyde-containing mixtures

摘要

A process for the removal of formaldehyde species from a liquid carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid ester stream which forms a two-phase mixture with water is disclosed which comprises the step of subjecting the liquid organic mixture to at least one liquid liquid extraction stage wherein water is used as an extractant to produce an organic phase stream which is substantially formaldehyde free and an aqueous phase stream which contains substantially all of the formaldehyde in the output streams from the liquid liquid extraction. The process is particularly useful for reducing the formaldehyde content of a methyl methacrylate product stream.