Methyl mercaptan distillation

Claim 1

IN THE PRODUCTION OF METHYL MERCAPTAN WHEREIN A CHARGE CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF METHYL MERCAPTAN,DIMETHYL SULFIDE,DIMETHYL ETHER, METHANOL AND WATER IS INTRODUCED CONTINOUSLY INTO A FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION TOWER PROVIDED WITH EXCHANGER MEANS IN THE TOP THEREOF FOR CONDENSING METHYL MERCAPTAN VAPORS, A STREAM CONTAINING LIQUID METHYL MERCAPTAN VAPORS, A STREAM CONTAINTRAPPED OUT AND THE LIQUID METHYL MERCAPTAN PHASE SEPARATED FROM THE LIQUID WATER PHASE, A PORTION OF THE LIQUID METHYL MERCAPTAN PHASE RECYCLED TO THE TOWER AS REFLUX, THE REMAINDER OF THE LIQUID METHYL MERCAPTAN PHASE BEING MADE ESSENTIALLY ANHYDROUS AND ALSO CHARACTERIZED BY A DISSOLVED METHANOL CONTENT OF MORE THAN 0.20 MOLE PERCENT, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN STEAM IS INTRODUCED INTO THE TOP OF THE TOWER IN AN AMOUNT SUCH THAT THE METHANOL CONTENT OF THE SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS METHYL MERCAPTAN IS NOT MORE THAN 0.20 MOLE PERCENT.