China Petrochemical Development Corporation

Hsi-Chin Tsai

Chia-Jung Tsai

Yao-Lung Liu

The invention relates to a polymer-supported carbonylation catalyst and its use in a process for preparing organic carboxylic acid or anhydride having n&plus;1 carbon atoms. The invention relates also to a process for preparing organic carboxylic acid or anhydride having n&plus;1 carbon atoms by carbonylating with monoxide, in the presence of the above-mentioned carbonylation catalyst, on alcohols having n carbon atoms, ethers having 2n carbon atoms or esters formed from said alcohols and acids. In particular, the invention relates to a process for preparing acetic acid by carbonylating methanol with carbon monooxide in the presence of said carbonylation catalyst. By using said carbonylation catalyst, the temperature for carbonylation can be lowered to about 160&deg; C. with a reaction rate better than that of a traditional process, while the tendency of catalyst precipitation in the course of carbonylation can be improved also. The process can be operated normally as the concentration of rhodium increased to up to several thousand ppm. Further, a comparable reaction rate can be achieved in the absence of water and hydroiodic acid, whereby the corrosion problem of the equipment and promotion of production capacity can be improved significantly.

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Chiya-Yi, Taiwan

Hsi-Chin Tsai