PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METHACRYLIC ACID FROM ISOBUTYRALDEHYDE

摘要

To produce methacrylic acid, firstly, isobutyraldehyde is acetalized. The resultant acetal is cleaved into the isobutenyl ether and alcohol. The isobutenyl ether is oxidized with molecular oxygen or an oxygen-containing gaseous mixture in the presence of an alkaline solution at temperatures of 30 DEG -70 DEG C. to obtain the epoxide. This epoxide is hydrolyzed to the alpha -hydroxyisobutyraldehyde. The latter is then oxidized with concentrated or fuming nitric acid at temperatures of 20 DEG -110 DEG C. to produce alpha -hydroxyisobutyric acid, and methacrylic acid is obtained therefrom by splitting off water.