Bp Chemicals Limited

University of Southampton

Neotronics Technology Plc

John Evans

Derek Pletcher

Trevor K Gibbs

Piers R Warburton

Steven L Scruton

A process for the production from an alcohol having n carbon atoms, wherein n is a number from 1 to 20, of a carboxylic acid having n+1 carbon atoms and/or an ester of the alcohol having n carbon atoms with the carboxylic acid by reacting the alcohol at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C. with carbon monoxide in the presence of a noble metal-containing heterogeneous catalyst and a halogen or halogen compound promoter characterized in that the catalyst comprises a noble metal component bonded to an inorganic oxide having surface hydroxyl groups through the intermediacy of a silicon compound which is condensible with the hydroxyl groups of the inorganic oxide and has either (i) at least one nitrogen or phosphorus-containing functional group capable of coordinating with the noble metal component or (ii) a functional group capable of reacting further with a nitrogen- or phosphorus-containing functional group capable of coordinating with the noble metal component thereby to bond the nitrogen- or phosphorus-containing functional group to the silicon compound.

Production of carboxylic acids and esters thereof

The present invention provides a sensor, preferably an electrochemical sensor, for detecting acidic gases, e.g. carbon dioxide. The electrochemical sensor has a sensing electrode (20, 22), a counter electrode (37) and a body of electrolyte containing a complex, e.g. copper(II) bis(propanediamine), which has one or more ligands that is displaceable by the presence of the acidic gas in the electrolyte to form a modified complex which can be electrochemically reacted at the sensing electrode at a potential at which the unmodified complex is unreactive. The acidic gas diffuses into the electrolyte through a porous membrane. The modified complex can also be detected colorimetrically because it absorbs light at a different wavelength to the unmodified complex.

Acidic gas sensors and method of using same

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Romsey, United Kingdom

John Evans