Process for the manufacture of acetaldehyde and acetone

摘要

An aqueous catalyst solution for use in the oxidation of ethylene and propylene, both containing acetylene, to acetaldehyde and acetone respectively comprises a compound of a metal of the platinum group, a ferric and/or a cupric salt, and a mercury salt, the mercury salt being present in an amount which varies directly as the acetylene content of the olefin and the atomic ratio of the platinum group metal to mercury being from 1:1 to 5:1. In the examples catalyst solutions containing (a) palladium chloride, ferric sulphate, mercuric sulphate and sulphuric acid; (b) palladium chloride, ferric chloride, cupric chloride, cupric acetate, mercuric sulphate and hydrogen chloride; and (c) palladium chloride, ferric sulphate, mercuric chloride and sulphuric acid are used. The catalyst solution may be regenerated by treatment with oxygen and/or a nitrogen-oxygen compound in the absence of olefine. Specifications 876,025, 878,777, 884,962 884,963 and 892,157 are referred to.ALSO:Acetaldehyde or acetone is made from ethylene or propylene respectively containing up to 8% by volume of acetylene as impurity by contacting with an aqueous catalyst solution containing a compound of a metal of the platinum group, a ferric and/or a cupric salt, and a mercury salt, the mercury salt being present in an amount which varies directly as the acetylene content of the olefine and the atomic ratio of the platinum group metal to mercury being from 1 : 1 to 5 : 1. If the ethylene or propylene has an acetylene content higher than 8% it may be treated prior to the conversion process with acidic aqueous solutions of mercury salts which advantageously also contain an oxidising agent, particularly a ferric salt. The conversion is advantageously carried out at a temperature in the range 50 DEG C.-107 DEG C. and under a pressure from normal to 50 atmospheres. Oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas may be passed into the catalyst solution together with or separately from the acetylene-containing gases. Specifications 876,025, 878,777, 884,962, 884,963 and 892,157 are referred to.