Acetaldehyde production

Formation of acetaldehyde and metallic Pd by passing ethylene into an aqueous solution of PdCl2 was reported by Phillips in 1894 15] and used for the quantitative analysis of Pd(II)[16], The reaction was highlighted after the industrial process for acetaldehyde production from ethylene based on this reaetion had been developed[l,17,18]. The Wacker process (or reaction) involves the three unit reactions shown. The unique feature in the Wacker process is the invention of the in situ redox system of PdCl2-CuCl2. 

Acetaldehyde, first used extensively during World War I as a starting material for making acetone [67-64-1] from acetic acid [64-19-7] is currendy an important intermediate in the production of acetic acid, acetic anhydride [108-24-7] ethyl acetate [141-78-6] peracetic acid [79-21 -0] pentaerythritol [115-77-5] chloral [302-17-0], glyoxal [107-22-2], aLkylamines, and pyridines. Commercial processes for acetaldehyde production include the oxidation or dehydrogenation of ethanol, the addition of water to acetylene, the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons, and the direct oxidation of ethylene [74-85-1]. In 1989, it was estimated that 28 companies having more than 98% of the wodd s 2.5 megaton per year plant capacity used the Wacker-Hoechst processes for the direct oxidation of ethylene. 

Figure 3 shows the production of acetaldehyde in the years 1969 through 1987 as well as an estimate of 1989—1995 production. The year 1969 was a peak year for acetaldehyde with a reported production of 748,000 t. Acetaldehyde production is linked with the demand for acetic acid, acetic anhydride, cellulose acetate, vinyl acetate resins, acetate esters, pentaerythritol, synthetic pyridine derivatives, terephthaHc acid, and peracetic acid. In 1976 acetic acid production represented 60% of the acetaldehyde demand. That demand has diminished as a result of the rising cost of ethylene as feedstock and methanol carbonylation as the preferred route to acetic acid (qv). 

The nameplate capacities for acetaldehyde production for the United States in 1989 are shown in Table 5 (120). Synthetic pyridine derivatives, peracetic acid, acetate esters by the Tischenko route, and pentaerythritol account for 40% of acetaldehyde demand. This sector may show strong growth in some products but all of these materials maybe prepared from alternative processes. 

Another attractive commercial route to MEK is via direct oxidation of / -butenes (34—39) in a reaction analogous to the Wacker-Hoechst process for acetaldehyde production via ethylene oxidation. In the Wacker-Hoechst process the oxidation of olefins is conducted in an aqueous solution containing palladium and copper chlorides. However, unlike acetaldehyde production, / -butene oxidation has not proved commercially successflil because chlorinated butanones and butyraldehyde by-products form which both reduce yields and compHcate product purification, and also because titanium-lined equipment is required to withstand chloride corrosion. 

Acetaldehyde. Until the early 1970s, the maia use of iadustrial ethanol was for the production of acetaldehyde [75-07-0]. By 1977, the ethanol route to acetaldehyde had largely been phased out ia the United States as ethylene and ethane became the preferred feedstocks for acetaldehyde production (286—304). Acetaldehyde usage itself has also changed two primary derivatives of acetaldehyde, acetic acid, and butanol, are now produced from feedstocks other than acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is stiU produced from ethanol ia India. 

Acetic Acid/Products/% Acetaldehyde/Products / % C02/Products/%... 

Oxidation of ethyl alcohol was one of the two important commercial routes to acetaldehyde until the 1950s, The other, much older route was the hydration of acetylene. The chemical industry was always after a replacement of acetylene chemistry, not just for acetaldehyde production, but all its many applications. Acetylene was expensive to produce, and with its reactive, explosive nature, it was difficult to handle. In the 1950s, acetylene chemistry and the ethyl alcohol oxidation route were largely phased out by the introduction of the liquid phase direct oxidation of ethylene. Almost all the acetaldehyde produced uses the newer process. 

Acetaldehyde may be made (1) from ethylene by direct oxidation, with the Wacker-catalyst containing copper(II) and palladium(II) salts (2) from ethanol by vapor-phase oxidation or dehydrogenation or (3) from butane by vapor-phase oxidation. The direct oxidation of ethylene is the most commonly used process, accounting for 80% of acetaldehyde production. 

Acetaldehyde Production by Reductive Carbonylation of Methanol, Methyl Ketals, and Methyl Esters... 

The addition of ethylene to a CO-H flow on a Rh-CeO catalyst (fig. 4), which should enhance the surface concentration of C H groups increased the formation of propanol and propionaldehyde and decreased the ethanol and acetaldehyde production. 

The effects of the reactant concentrations were determined on MnMo04 at 823 K after the steady state had been attained. With increase of the C2H5 concentration from 5% to 20%, the acetaldehyde production increased, but no change occurred in the production of ethylene. When the N2O concenti ation was... 

There is a lower ratio of hydrogen atoms in the acetaldehyde product, which tells us that the grain alcohol is being oxidized. 

Industrial Applications. Several large scale industrial processes are based on some of the reactions listed above, and more are under development. Most notable among those currently in use is the already mentioned Wacker process for acetaldehyde production. Similarly, the production of vinyl acetate from ethylene and acetic acid has been commercialized. Major processes nearing commercialization are hydroformylations catalyzed by phosphine-cobalt or phosphine-rhodium complexes and the carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid catalyzed by (< 3P) 2RhCOCl. 

The cycle approach for oxidation has been adopted at an industrial level for the Wacker-Chemie process for acetaldehyde production, in which ethylene is first put in contact with the oxidized catalyst solution, containing palladium chloride, and in the second step the solution containing the reduced catalyst is sent to a regeneration reactor containing cupric chloride and inside which also air is fed. The regenerated catalyst solution is returned to the first oxidation stage. Another industrial application is the Lummus process for the anaerobic ammoxidation of o-xylene to o-phthaloni-trile [68]. Du Pont has developed the oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride catalyzed by V/P/O, in a CFBR reactor, and built a demonstration unit in Spain [69] however, a few years ago the plant was shut down, due to the bad economics. 

The commercial process of choice for acetaldehyde production is the direct oxidation of ethylene. 

Gucbilmez, Y., Dogu, T. and Bald, S. 2006. Ethylene and Acetaldehyde Production by Selective Oxidation of Ethanol Using Mesoporous V-MCM-41 Catalysts. Ind Eng. Chem. Res., 45, 3496-3502. 

Effect of Yeast on Fermentation. North Coast enologists recognize the important effects yeast strains have on the management of the fermentation, its evenness and completion, and the wine composition. Rankine (23) reviewed the different effects of yeast strain on wine composition and noted especially the relationship of yeast strain to sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and acetaldehyde production. 

Bongers, R., Hoefnagel, M. H. N., and Kleerebezem, M. 2005. High-level acetaldehyde production in Lactococcus lactis by metabolic engineering. Appl Environ. Microbiol., 71,1109-1113. 

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