| abstract |
A process for producing a high purity caprolactam is disclosed in which a crude caprolactam obtained by a catalytic rearrangement of cyclohexanone oxime is subjectedn (1) to mixing, while stirring, with at least one hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons and alicyclic hydrocarbons to form a liquid-liquid , two-layer liquid mixture, and then crystallizing caprolactam out of the liquid mixture; (2) to mixing with both at least one hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons and alicyclic hydrocarbons, and water to form a liquid mixture, separating the liquid mixture into a hydrocarbon layer and a water layer, and then recovering caprolactam from the water layer; or (3) to distillation in the co-presence of at least one aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon of 10 to 18 carbon atoms. |