Process for producing adipic acid

摘要

A process for producing adipic acid is provided which comprises a step of oxidizing hydroxycaproic acid and/or epsi-caprolactone with oxygen or oxygen-containing gas using a metal in the platinum group as a catalyst. According to the process, adipic acid is produced without using nitric acid, which becomes the main factor responsible for the by-production of nitrogen oxides, and without using any particularly high-pressure conditions.