Continuous process for the production of oxygen-containing organic compounds including a substantial proportion of acetic acid, and products thus prepared.

摘要

Oxygen-containing organic compounds including a substantial proportion of acetic acid are produced continuously by liquid phase oxidation of a C3 to C7 saturated hydrocarbon, or mixture of such hydrocarbons, at a temperature in the range 70 to 150 DEG C in the presence of an essentially inert reaction medium and a soluble cobalt catalyst, the total volume of the liquid in the reaction zone being maintained substantially constant. Improvements in this process result from introducing into the reaction zone the cobalt catalyst dissolved in essentially inert reaction medium at a rate exceeding 0.2 kg/hour, preferably exceeding 0.3 kg/hour per litre of reaction mixture.