Monsanto Company

Thomas C Singleton

Frank E Paulik

Yu Wen Wei

Harry S Leach

The present invention provides for an improved process wherein an olefin, an alcohol, or an ester, halide or ether derivative of said alcohol is reacted with carbon monoxide in a liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst system that contains (a) a rhodium component, and (b) and iodine or bromine component. By passing at least a portion of the liquid reaction mass from the reaction zone to a separation zone of substantially lower CO partial pressure, at least a portion of the carbonylation products, as well as unreacted carbon monoxide, inert gases and unreacted olefin, alcohol or alcohol derivatives are vaporized and can be withdrawn from the separation zone. Precipitation of the rhodium catalyst under carbon monoxide deficient conditions is prevented or retarded by addition to the carbon monoxide deficient zones of the system of a catalyst stabilizer which is a germanium (IV) compound, an alkali metal compound, and mixtures thereof.

Carbonylation process with an alkali metal acetate as catalyst stabilizer

The present invention provides for an improved process wherein an olefin, an alcohol, or an ester, halide or ether derivative of said alcohol is reacted with carbon monoxide in a liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst system that contains (a) a rhodium component, and (b) an iodine or bromine component. By passing at least a portion of the liquid reaction mass from the reaction zone to a separation zone of substantially lower CO partial pressure, at least a portion of the carbonylation products, as well as unreacted carbon monoxide, inert gases, and unreacted olefin, alcohol, or alcohol derivatives are vaporized and can be withdrawn from the separation zone. Precipitation of the rhodium catalyst under carbon monoxide deficient conditions is prevented or retarded by addition to the system of a stabilizer component selected from N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-o-phenylenediamine and 2,3'-dipyridyl.

Process for stabilizing carbonylation catalyst in soluble form

The present invention provides for an improved process wherein an olefin, an alcohol, or an ester, halide or ether derivative of said alcohol is reacted with carbon monoxide in a liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst system containing a rhodium component and an iodine or bromine component. By passing at least a portion of the liquid reaction mass from the reaction zone to a separation zone of substantially lower CO partial pressure, at least a portion of the carbonylation products, as well as unreacted carbon monoxide, inert gases, and unreacted olefin, alcohol, or alcohol derivatives are vaporized and can be withdrawn from the separation zone. Precipitation of the rhodium catalyst under carbon monoxide deficient conditions is prevented or retarded by addition to the system of a stabilizer which is a tin component which may be tin or a tin compound.

The reaction of carbon monoxide and water to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide is catalyzed by a rhodium or iridium component with an iodide promoter.

Catalysis of water-gas shift reaction

The rate of reaction of ethylenically unsaturated compounds, carbon monoxide and water in the presence of catalyst systems consisting essentially of a rhodium or iridium compound and a halogen promoter to produce carboxylic acids is accelerated by including a minor amount of a compound of cobalt, iron or manganese in the reaction system.

Synthesis of carboxylic acids

Formic acid is removed from acetic acid substantially free of halide impurities but containing small amounts of formic acid by contacting the acid with a compound of hexavalent chromium and recovering the purified acid from the resulting mixture by distillation, ion-exchange, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the acid to be purified is distilled in the presence of a solution of the hexavalent chromium compound, the purified acid being obtained as the overhead product while the bottoms stream contains the reduced chromium compound. With the preferred chromium trioxide as treating agent, this compound can be recovered for re-use by adding a strong mineral acid to the bottoms stream from the distillation, electrolytically oxidizing the chromium compound contained therein, and separating chromium trioxide from the strong mineral acid solution.

Purification of acetic acid

A method for treating catalyst solution comprising the complex reaction product formed on mixing of a rhodium component or an iridium component and a halogen component in the presence of carbon monoxide to remove metallic corrosion products and recover rhodium or iridium and halogen values therefrom.

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Texas City, TX, United States of America

Thomas C Singleton