Azeotropic distillation of hydroxyacetic acid

摘要

The yield of hydroxyacetic acid produced from formaldehyde, water and carbon monoxide in the presence of a sulfuric acid catalyst and using crude recycled hydroxyacetic acid as the reaction medium is improved by azeotropic distillation of crude, recycle hydroxyacetic acid with toluene. The distillation step reduces the water content of feed thereby increases conversion of formaldehyde to hydroxyacetic acid and reduces formic acid content in the product.