METHOD FOR DRYING METHYL MERCAPTAN BY MEANS OF AZEOTROPIC DISTILLATION

1 . A process for drying methyl mercaptan, comprising the following steps:

1) a stream (A) comprising methyl mercaptan and water is introduced into a distillation column ( 1 );

2) said stream (A) is distilled in said column ( 1 );

3) the distillate (B) is recovered in gaseous form, preferably at the top of the column;

4) the distillate (B) is condensed, preferably in a condenser ( 2 ), so as to obtain a condensate (C) in liquid form;

5) said condensate (C) is separated, preferably using a decanter ( 3 ), so as to obtain two separate liquid phases:

an aqueous phase (D); and

an organic phase (E) comprising methyl mercaptan;

6) all or part of the organic phase (E) is optionally introduced into the distillation column ( 1 ) as reflux; and

7) a stream (F) comprising the dried methyl mercaptan is recovered, preferably at the bottom of the column ( 1 ).

2 . The drying process according to claim 1 , in which the distillation of step 2) is performed at a pressure of between 0.05 and 75 bar absolute, preferably between 1 and 30 bar absolute, more preferentially between 5 and 15 bar absolute.

3 . The drying process according to claim 1 , in which the distillation of step 2) is performed at a temperature of between 20° C. and 200° C., preferably between 60° C. and 100° C., more preferentially between 65° C. and 95° C.

4 . The drying process according to claim 1 , in which the distillation of step 2) is an azeotropic distillation.

5 . The drying process according to claim 1 , in which stream (A) comprises at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, more preferentially at least 98%, for example at least 98.5%, or even at least 99% by weight of methyl mercaptan, relative to the total by weight of methyl mercaptan and water.

6 . The drying process according to claim 1 , in which the amount of water in stream (F) is between 0 and 1500 ppm, preferably between 0 and 1000 ppm, more preferentially between 40 and 800 ppm, relative to the total by weight of methyl mercaptan and water.

7 . The drying process according to claim 1 , in which, when step 6) is performed, the reflux ratio is between 0 and 0.99, preferably between 0 and 0.60.

8 . The drying process according to claim 1 , in which stream (A) is connected to a unit for producing methyl mercaptan from methanol and hydrogen sulfide.

9 . The drying process according to claim 1 , in which stream (A) is connected to a unit for producing methyl mercaptan from carbon oxide, hydrogen (H 2 ), hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) and/or sulfur (S).

10 . A process for producing methyl mercaptan, comprising the following steps:

a) reacting methanol with hydrogen sulfide to form a stream (M), preferably in gaseous form, comprising methyl mercaptan, water, and possibly unreacted H 2 S and sulfur byproducts;

b) optionally, said stream (M) is condensed;

c) at least one step of purification of said stream (M) is performed to obtain a stream enriched in methyl mercaptan;

d) the stream obtained in step c) is dried via the drying process of claim 1 .

11 . The use of azeotropic distillation for drying methyl mercaptan.