Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.

Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

Tomoji Tsuji

Takashi Suzuki

Takashi Okawa

Nobuo Isogai

Motoyuki Hosokawa

Natsuko Wakui

Shigeo Yoshinaka

Susumu Naito

Seiji Uchiyama

Tsukasa Toki

Koichi Kitahara

A process for producing ethanol which comprises reacting methanol, carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a catalyst comprising cobalt or a cobalt compound and a tertiary phosphine as an effective component is disclosed. A gaseous mixture obtained by burning heavy oil or coal having a relatively high content of carbon can be used as a raw material for producing ethanol.

Process for producing ethanol

Xylyleneglycol is produced by diazotization reaction of xylylenediamine in the presence of more than 5 parts by weight of water per 1 part of xylylenediamine, while maintaining the PH of the reaction mixture in the range of 1.5 to 5.0.

Process for producing xylyleneglycol

Trimellitic acid is produced in higher yield by liquid phase air oxidation of pseudocumene in acetic acid as a solvent in the presence of cobalt, manganese, and bromine as a catalyst, where the oxidation is carried out at two stages comprising a first stage of reaction at a temperature of 110.degree. to 170.degree. C. and a second stage of reaction at a temperature of 180.degree. to 240.degree. C. while maintaining a reaction pressure under a condition of the following formula throughout the reaction:

Process for producing trimellitic acid

Growing community of inventors

Niigata, Japan

Tomoji Tsuji