Process for manufacturing high purity methacrylic acid

Abstract

A process is provided herein for the high yield production of high purity glacial methacrylic acid (“HPMAA”) that is substantially pure, specifically 99% pure or greater with a water content of 0.05% or less. This improved process comprises providing a crude MAA stream and purifying the crude methacrylic acid stream in a series of successive distillation steps

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for the preparation of high purity methacrylic acid, said apparatus comprising at least one distillation column and its ancillaries, said at least one distillation column having a bottom and comprising perforated plate trays, said at least one distillation column and its ancillaries being designed to operate in the range of from 50 mmHg to 80 mmHg, allowing said bottom to be operated at a temperature from 70° C. to 100° C., said at least one distillation column and its ancillaries being constructed, at least in part, of a corrosion resistant material selected from the group consisting of 300 series stainless steel, 904L stainless steel, 6-moly stainless steel, Hastelloy®, tantalum, zirconium and covered base metal. 
   
   
       12 - 13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for the preparation of high purity methacrylic acid, said apparatus comprising at least one distillation column and its ancillaries, said at least one distillation column having a bottom and comprising perforated plate trays, said at least one distillation column and its ancillaries being designed to operate in the range of from 60 mmHg to 100 mmHg, allowing said bottom to be operated at a temperature from 75° C. to 115° C., and said at least one distillation column and its ancillaries being constructed, at least in part, of a corrosion resistant material selected from the group consisting of 300 series stainless steel, 904L stainless steel, 6-moly stainless steel, Hastelloy®, tantalum, zirconium and covered base metal, wherein said at least one distillation.