Caprolactam

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Caprolactam

Caprolactam is an organic compound

Organic compound

An organic compound is any member of a large class of chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of compounds such as carbonates, simple oxides of carbon and cyanides, as well as the allotropes of carbon, are considered Inorganic compound....
which is a lactam

Lactam

A lactam is a simple aromatic ring amide. Prefixes indicate how many carbon atoms are present in the ring: beta-lactam , ?-lactam , d-lactam ....
of 6-aminohexanoic acid (e-aminohexanoic acid, aminocaproic acid

Aminocaproic acid

Aminocaproic acid is a derivative and analogue of the amino acid lysine, which makes it an effective enzyme inhibitor for enzyme which bind that particular residue....
). It can alternatively be considered cyclic amide

Amide

In chemistry, an amide is one of three kinds of compounds:* the organic chemistry functional group characterized by a carbonyl group linked to a nitrogen atom , or a compound that contains this functional group ; or...
of caproic acid.

The primary industrial use of caprolactam is as a monomer

Monomer

A monomer is a small molecule that may become Chemistry chemical bonding to other monomers to form a polymer....
in the production of nylon

Nylon

Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides and first produced on February 28, 1935 by Wallace Carothers at DuPont....
-6. Most of the caprolactam is synthesised from cyclohexanone

Cyclohexanone

Cyclohexanone is the organic compound with the chemical formula...
via an oximation process using hydroxylammonium sulfate

Hydroxylammonium sulfate

Hydroxylammonium sulfate, 2SO4, is the sulfuric acid Salt of hydroxylamine. It is primarily used as an easily-handled form of hydroxylamine, which is explosive when pure....
followed by catalytic rearrangement using the Beckmann rearrangement

Beckmann rearrangement

The Beckmann rearrangement, named after the German chemist Ernst Otto Beckmann , is an acid catalysis rearrangement reaction of an oxime to an amide....
process step.

Major worldwide producers include BASF, Honeywell, DSM (Dutch State Mines), Lanxess, Toray, UBE and Sumitomo/Enichem.

Caprolactam is an irritant

Irritation

Irritation or exacerbation, in biology and physiology, is a state of inflammation or painful reaction to allergy or cell-lining damage. A stimulus or agent which induces the state of irritation is an irritant....
and is toxic by ingestion

Ingestion

Ingestion is the consumption of a substance by an organism. In animals, it normally is accomplished by taking in the substance through the mouth into the gastrointestinal tract, such as through eating or drinking....
, inhalation

Inhalation

Inhalation is the movement of air from the external environment, through the air ways, and into the alveoli.Inhalation begins with the onset of contraction of the diaphragm , which results in expansion of the intrapleural space and an increase in negative pressure according to Boyle's Law....
, or absorption

Absorption (skin)

Skin absorption is a route by which substances can enter the body through the skin. Along with inhalation, ingestion and injection, dermis absorption is a route of exposure for toxic substances and route of administration for medication....
through the skin

Skin

The skin is the outer covering of the body, also known as the epidermis. It is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial biological tissue, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and organ s....
.

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