Amoco Corporation

Kristi A Fjare

Calvin T Chew

David A Palmer

Wayne P Schammel

Walter Partenheimer

Martin A Zeitlin

Frank G Belmonte

Rosemary F McMahon

Diane J Graziano

David S Hacker

Keith D Larson

Stacey L Kissinger

A process is disclosed for the preparation of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids from primary aliphatic alcohols having 2 to 6 carbon atoms wherein the reaction is in semi-continuous or continuous mode. Acetic acid is prepared from ethanol in high conversion, selectivity and yield. Acetic acid is useful as a solvent for the manufacture of terephthalic acid and other organic compounds.

Liquid phase oxidation of alcohols to prepare carboxylic acids

Substantial proportions of methyl acetate and unreacted polymethylbenzene are recovered from the waste gas produced during the oxidation of a polymethylbenzene to its corresponding polycarboxylic acid by passing the waste gas, after being cooled for removal of water vapor, through at least one bed of activated carbon and subsequently desorbing the methyl acetate and polymethylbenzene from the bed by passing a desorbing medium, such as steam, through the bed. Preferably, the cooled stream is heated to a temperature of at least 21.degree. C. (70.degree. F.) prior to being passed into the bed of activated carbon. There is also disclosed an improved process for the oxidation of a polymethylbenzene to its corresponding aromatic polycarboxylic acid, which process comprises producing the polycarboxylic acid and waste gas comprising methyl acetate, water vapor, and unreacted polymethylbenzene and treating the waste gas according to the above method.

By-product recovery when oxidizing polymethylbenzenes to polycarboxylic

The addition of hafnium to oxidation catalysts provided by a heavy transition metal-bromine ion catalyst combination containing cobalt-manganese-bromine or manganese-bromine or cobalt-bromine and a soluble source of hafnium uniquely increases catalytic activity of the said catalyst combination for converting methyl groups on the benzene nucleus. The presence of hafnium in the total reactor contents is equal to or less than 250 parts per million by weight of the total reactor mother liquor. The solubility of the hafnium in the reactor solvent is such that reactor product cake contains less than 0.3 ppm by weight. Bromine emissions can be reduced.

Production of polycarboxylic acids with hafnium-activated cobalt catalyst

There is provided a process for recovering acetic acid from methyl acetate wherein the methyl acetate is hydrolyzed catalytically to methanol and acetic acid in the same tower or column that is used to separate the methanol from the acetic acid and the hydrolysis and separation are carried out coextensively in the vessel. The process is employed suitably in a process for the partial oxidation of a polymethylbenzene to a polycarboxylic acid in the presence of an oxidation catalyst and an acetic acid solvent.

Recovery of acetic acid from methyl acetate

A process is disclosed for the oxidation of esters of para- and meta-methyl-substituted phenols to the corresponding aromatic carboxylic acid in the presence of a promoter comprising an anhydride of a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid and a heavy metal catalyst with or without the presence of bromine. The resulting carboxylic acids are useful in liquid crystal polymers and polymers useful in engineering plastics.

Process for oxidizing esters of methyl-substituted phenol compounds to

A process is disclosed for the co-production of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids and polycarboxylic aromatic acids in high selectivity, conversion and yield. The aliphatic monocarboxylic acid can serve as a component of the solvent for the process.

Process for production of polycarboxylic aromatic acids

A process for the preparation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid from p-methoxytoluene wherein said p-methoxytoluene is oxidized to p-anisic acid and said p-anisic acid is cleaved to p-hydroxybenzoic acid.

Growing community of inventors

Naperville, IL, United States of America

Kristi A Fjare