Catalysis Reviews-Science and Engineering, Vol.43, No.4, 381-441, 2001
epsilon-caprolactam: New by-product free synthesis routes
The production of the nylon precursor e-caprolactam via the Beckmann rearrangement is one of the large industrial processes worldwide. In this work, the state-of-the-art processes are summarized and the two main pathways For new production capacities (the butadiene-based and especially the heterogeneously catalyzed routes starting from benzene/cyclohexanone oxime) are described. Additionally, the new recycling processes to recover caprolactam from waste carpets and some new approaches are described.
Keywords:epsilon-caprolactam;state-of-the-art routes;butadiene-based routes;heterogeneously catalyzed routes;nylon recycling