a process for the continuous recovery of caprolactam from either solid polycaprolactam waste by depolymerization or from liquid polycaprolactam extraction water from an extraction zone where , in either instance , a caprolactam water vapor mixture is produced and subsequently upgraded in a distillation zone to provide a dilute mixture of caprolactam and water vapor . a minor portion of this dilute caprolactam water vapor is condensed and recycled to the distillation zone . the remaining , major portion of this mixture is compressed and admixed with fresh steam , superheated and passed to either the extraction zone or depolymerization reaction .