| abstract |
Maleic anhydride is recovered in high yields from gaseous mixtures containing the maleic anhydride in the vapor phase by cooling the gaseous mixture containing the maleic anhydride to a temperature above the dew point of water in the gaseous mixture, and then scrubbing the gaseous mixture with a solvent which comprises a phthalate ester, preferably dibutyl phthalate, and up to 10 weight percent phthalic anhydride. Thereafter, the maleic anhydride is stripped from the solvent in a one-step operation, and the solvent is thereafter recycled to the scrubbing step. |