| abstract |
Process for the preparation of ε-caprolactam comprising treating 6-aminocaproic acid, 6-aminocaproate ester, 6-aminocaproamide, oligomers or polymers of these compounds or mixtures comprising at least two of these compounds in a cyclisation reactor in the presence of superheated steam in which a gaseous product stream comprising ε-caprolactam, lights and heavies is obtained, wherein the product stream, after condensation and at least partial removal of water and lights, is split into a ε-caprolactam stream and a heavies stream containing heavies and ε-caprolactam and the heavies stream is recycled to a cyclisation reactor. |