OXIDATION PROCESS

摘要

A process utilizing nitric acid and oxygen as co-oxidants to oxidize aldehydes, alcohols, polyols, preferably carbohydrates, specifically reducing sugars to produce the corresponding carboxylic acids.

主权项

1. A method of synthesizing a mixture of organic acids, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) combining, over time, in one or more closed reaction vessels, under a positive pressure of oxygen and with continuous mixing, an organic compound suitable for nitric acid oxidation and an aqueous solution of nitric acid to form a first reaction mixture, wherein the organic compound and the aqueous solution of nitric acid are introduced into the one or more closed reaction vessels; (b) flowing said first reaction mixture through the one or more reaction vessels while maintaining a controlled temperature of from about 5° C. to about 105° C. and controlled positive pressure of oxygen of from about 0 bar g to about 1000 bar g for a time period suitable to oxidize the organic compound to a subsequent reaction mixture comprising a mixture of organic acid products and nitrogen oxides; (c) recirculating the subsequent reaction mixture to the reaction vessel vapor space headspace; and (d) recovering nitric acid from the subsequent reaction mixture.