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Abstract

A method of preventing polymer tar build-up in ACH production of MAA and/or MMA is described. The method is characterised in that one or more surfactants are contacted with the hydrolysis and optional esterification stage reaction medium, the said surfactants are selected from: a) C₁₀ to C₃₀ alcohol ethoxylates with an average of 5 to 100 ethylene oxide units per molecule; b) alkyl, hydrogen, —O—[CH₂CH₂O]_xH and/or —O—[CH₂CH₂CH₂O]_x H N-substituted alkylene di- or triamines with an average of 1 to 30 total ethylene oxide and propylene oxide repeating units per molecule and wherein x and x′ are from 1 to 30; and c) C₁₀ to C₃₀ alcohol ethoxylate, propoxylates with an average of 5 to 100 total propylene oxide and ethylene oxide units per molecule, which units may be in a random, block or alternating sequence or may be a combination thereof. The method is particularly useful for preventing build-up of oligomer and polymer tar-like deposits in reaction vessels, process equipment, pipework or other parts of the acetone cyanohydrin MMA and MAA production process.

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First Claim