The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 31, 1988
Filed:
Jul. 31, 1986
Stephen J Pietsch, Oak Park, IL (US);
Houssam M Naim, Naperville, IL (US);
Amoco Corporation, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A continuous process for the production of methacrylic acid ester of a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 saturated aliphatic alcohol in the presence of a catalyst is disclosed. This process contemplates continuously introducing into a plug-flow reactor a feed stream containing methacrylic acid, a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 saturated aliphatic alcohol in stoichiometric exesss relative to the methacrylic acid present, an esterification catalyst, and a liquid organic substance having a volatility no greater than that of methacrylic acid. The feed stream thus introduced into the plug-flow reactor is preferably maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure, while the contained methacrylic acid reactant is held at an esterification temperature and for a time period sufficient to esterify at least a portion of the introduced methacrylic acid. The admixture thus produced is continuously fractionated, preferably in a distillation zone or column, into a vaporized distillate stream and a liquid bottoms stream. The distillate stream has a relatively greater methacrylic acid ester content than the bottoms stream. A portion of the bottoms stream, constituted primarily by the liquid organic substance and the esterification catalyst, is recycled to the reactor while the remainder is purged.