Patent attributes
The invention relates to a method for producing a high-molecular polyester from a solidified polyester prepolymer by solid phase polycondensation. The polycondensation cleavage products of the solid phase polycondensation reaction are extracted from the product by means of a process gas, and the process gas is then cleaned and essentially recycled. According to the invention, the process gas is cleaned by means of an aqueous washing liquid. The invention also relates to an installation for carrying out the inventive method, said installation containing a crystallisation appliance (1) and a reaction appliance (2). A gas outlet (2d) of the reaction appliance (2) is directly or indirectly connected to a gas inlet (3c) in a gas cleaning system (3), and a gas outlet (3d) of the gas cleaning system (3) is connected to a gas inlet (2c) of the reaction appliance (2). Furthermore, the gas cleaning system (3) comprises a gas washing appliance to which an aqueous washing liquid is supplied, and a gas drying appliance (4) which is mounted downstream.