| 摘要 |
<p>Carboxylic acids are produced from carbonaceous material, such as coal, by treating a mixture of a carbonaceous material, water and a water soluble reagent comprising a Group Ia or IIa metal, with oxygen to produce a carboxylic acid salt of the metal of the reagent. The carboxylic acid salt is converted to the corresponding carboxylic acid with regeneration of the water soluble reagent. The carboxylic acid is recovered and the regenerated reagent is conveniently recycled. The water soluble reagent may be, e.g. potassium formate, acetate or propionate, and the salt is conveniently converted to the corresponding acid by treatment with an acid of such a reagent. When preparing an aromatic acid, the acid salt may be isomerized by heating, resulting in production of an isomerized aromatic carboxylic acid. In this case, benzoic acid is advantageously added to the mixture prior to isomerization, for example before oxidation.</p> |
