Process for the manufacture of methyl mercaptan

Abstract

Process for the synthesis of methyl mercaptan by the reaction of methanol with hydrogen sulfide wherein a high degree of conversion and enhanced selectivity for the product are obtained by dividing the quantity of catalyst utilized in the reaction into a minimum of three separate portions to form a plurality of reactive catalyst zones and introducing the total amount of hydrogen sulfide reagent into the first of such catalyst zones and thereafter introducing equivalent or alternatively different amounts of the methanol reagent into the consecutive interconnected catalytic zones to react with hydrogen sulfide flowing therethrough while maintaining a molar ratio of hydrogen sulfide to methanol between 1.1 and 2.5. By subdividing the catalyst into separate beds and introducing the reagents consecutively into the catalytic zones, it is possible to maintain the temperature of the reaction mixture within the optimum range and, therefore, to minimize deterioration of the catalyst due to excessive temperature and substantially eliminate the formation of undesired by-products.