PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ACETIC ACID

摘要

A process for the liquid phase oxidation of butane to produce acetic acid by reacting oxygen and butane in the presence of a cobalt catalyst in a liquid reaction composition in an oxidation reaction zone characterised in that the process is performed at a temperature in the reaction zone in the range 120 to 180 DEG C whilst continuously maintaining a concentration of oxygen throughout the reaction zone equivalent to a partial pressure of oxygen greater than 2 bar and a concentration of cobalt oxidation catalyst in the liquid reaction composition of at least 0.12 % by weight cobalt and up to its limit of solubility in the liquid reaction composition.