| abstract |
The present invention relates to a process for preparing alkyl methacrylates, specifically methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methacrylic acid, based on methacrolein, which has been oxidatively esterified in a second stage of the process. Methacrolein can in principle be obtained from units of 2 carbon (C2) and units of 4 (C4). The present process is characterized by the fact that it is possible to obtain alkyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid in a simple way, with high production rates and high purity, either in mixture form or as separated product streams. Specifically, the invention process has the significant advantage that the proportion of the desired products methacrylic acid and alkyl methacrylate, especially MMA, can precisely be adjusted freely within a wide range and that it varies with different chemical engineering procedures and operating variables. See Figure 1. |