Process for producing maleic anhydride

摘要

A process for producing maleic anhydride is described, which comprises (i) reacting a hydrocarbon with oxygen in a vapor phase in the presence of a catalyst to yield a reaction mixture gas containing maleic anhydride, (ii) bringing the reaction mixture gas into contact with an organic solvent to collect the maleic anhydride in the organic solvent, (iii) separating at least part of the maleic anhydride from the organic solvent, (iv) washing with an aqueous alkali solution at least part of the organic solvent from which maleic anhydride has been separated, and (v) reusing the resultant washed organic solvent and the residual organic solvent for contact with the reaction mixture gas.