Process for the coproduction of a C2 to C10 monocarboxylic acid and formic acid.

摘要

C2 to C10 monocarboxylic acids are co-procuded with formic acid by reacting at an elevated temperature below 250 DEG C a C1 to C9 alkyl formate with carbon monoxide and water in the presence as catalyst of a Group VIII noble metal component and an iodine or bromine-containing promoter, the partial pressure of carbon monoxide being in the range 1 to 300 bar, the concentration of noble metal component being in the range from 100 to 5000 ppm and the atomic ratio of noble metal to iodine or bromine being in the range from 1 : 50 to 1 : 1000 and thereafter recovering the co-produced C2 to C10 monocarboxylic acid and formic acid. In a preferred embodiment, the alkyl formate is methyl formate and the recovered acids are acetic acid and formic acid.