PREPARATION OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS AND/OR ESTERS

摘要

1,223,029. Carboxylic acids and/or esters. SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ N.V. 13 Nov., 1969 [15 Nov., 1968], No. 54331/68. Heading C2C. Carboxylic acids and/or esters are obtained by reacting a monohydric alcohol with CO by a process which comprises the steps of (a) introducing into a reactor a highly acidic liquid catalyst-other than HF-, the monohydric alcohol, CO and a minor quantity of a compound that is capable of removing water under the reaction conditions, (b) splitting up of liquid reactor effluent into a phase comprising carboxylic acid and/or ester and a phase comprising highly acidic liquid catalyst, and (c) recycling at least part of said highly acidic liquid catalyst to the reactor in step (a). The compound used to remove water is preferably a branched-chain monoolefin. Specified catalysts are H 3 PO 4 , HBF 4 , H 2 SO 4 , FSO 3 H and ClSO 3 H, or mixtures thereof with BF 3 and/or water. Substantially pure CO or mixtures thereof with inert gases may be used. A schematic apparatus for carrying out the process is described. An example is given for the production of trimethyl acetic acid.