Cobalt-catalyzed oxidation of C{HD 3 {B to C{HD 7 {B saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons to oxygenated products

摘要

In a process for the production of oxygenated organic compounds including a substantial proportion of acetic acid by oxidizing a C3 to C7 saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon in the liquid phase with molecular oxygen in the presence of an inert reaction medium and a cobalt catalyst, between 5 and 90% in a continuous reaction and 11 and 90% in a batch reaction of the cobalt being introduced in the +3 oxidation state, the improvement comprising separating the catalyst solution fraction from the fraction comprising oxygen-containing compounds and water by distillation while limiting the residence time of the catalyst solution fraction in the distillation zone so that it is the minimum consistent with substantially complete separation of the fractions thereby minimizing the reduction of Co+3 to Co+2.