Bp Chemicals Limited

University of Sheffield

John Cook

Michael David Jones

Simon James Kitchen

Brian Ellis

Philip Howard

Peter M Maitlis

Peter John Wilson

Ruth A Hazel

A process for the production of acetic acid, which process comprises contacting ethane and/or ethylene with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in a fluid bed reactor in the presence of a microspheroidal fluidised particulate solid oxidation catalyst, wherein at least 90% of said catalyst particles are less than 300 microns.

Process for the production of acetic acid

A catalyst composition for the selective oxidation of ethane and/or ethylene to acetic acid which composition comprises in combination with oxygen the elements: MO .W .Ag .Ir .X .Y (I) wherein X is the elements Nb and V; Y is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: Cr, Mn, Ta, Ti, B, Al, Ga, In, Pt, Zn, Cd, Bi, Ce, Co, Rh, Cu, Au, Fe, Ru, Os, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zr, Hf, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Si, Sn, Tl, U, Re and Pd; a, b, c, d, e and f represent the gram atom ratios of the elements such that 0<a&lE;1, 0&lE;b&lE;1 and a&plus;b&equals;1; 0<(c&plus;d)&lE;0.1; 0<e&lE;2; and 0&lE;f&lE;2. The catalyst composition may be used in the production of acetic acid and in an integrated process for the production of acetic acid and/or vinyl acetate.

Catalyst and process for the oxidation of ethane and/or ethylene

Carboxylic acids produced by carbonylation and having iodide and oxidisable impurities are purified by contacting with hydrogen peroxide and recovering the purified acid by distillation or evaporation. Preferably a strong acid such as sulphuric acid is used as a catalyst. Product contamination by sulphur from sulphuric acid and by excess peroxide may be reduced by the use of metal salts in the recovery step.

Process for purification of carboxylic acids

Carboxylic acids having two or more carbon atoms than formic acid, or esters of such carboxylic acids are prepared by reacting either formic acid or an ester of formic acid with an olefin at elevated temperature in the presence of a Group VIB metal catalyst. The Group VIB metal which is chromium, molybdenum or tungsten is suitably added as a carbonyl or carbonyl halide. In addition to the catalyst a halide promoter and a phosphorus containing copromoter may optionally be added. The process can be used, for example to prepare propionic acid or a propionic acid ester from ethylene and either formic acid of an ester of formic acid.

Preparation of carboxylic acids and esters

Acetic anhydride is prepared by reacting, at elevated temperature, methyl acetate or dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of an effective amount of a catalyst which comprises: (1) cobalt, (2) a compound containing at least one quaternary nitrogen or phosphorus atom and (3) a source of iodide or bromide wherein the atomic ratio of iodide or bromide to cobalt is from 0.5:1 to 5:1. The compound containing at least one quaternary nitrogen or phosphorus atom can optionally be generated in situ by a quaternization reaction.

Preparation of anhydrides

The invention relates to the production of oxygenated organic compounds comprising alcohols, aldehydes, ethers and salts of carboxylic acids. Prior art processes for the production of ethanol in particular involve the use of elevated temperatures and pressures. Milder conditions can be used in the process of the invention in which either a mercury compound of formula (R.sup.1 OCHR.sup.2 CHR.sup.3 Hg).sub.n X (I), wherein X is an organic or inorganic anion, n is an integer equal to the valency of the anion, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group and R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or the group --(--CHR.sup.2 CHR.sup.3 Hg).sub.n X, or the precursors of the compound (I), with a catalyst comprising a complex containing a metal of Group VIII, particularly rhodium, in the presence of a liquid reagent containing an active acidic hydrogen atom. A particularly suitable rhodium complex is one having the formula:

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Sproatley, United Kingdom

John Cook