Acetic acid methanol carbonylation

Acetic Acid. Methanol carbonylation has become the process of choice for production of this staple of the organic chemical industry, which is used in the manufacture of acetate fibers, acetic anhydride [108-24-7] and terephthaUc acid, and for fermentation (see Acetic acid and derivatives). 

Methyl Acetate Garbonylation. Anhydride can be made by carbonylation of methyl acetate [79-20-9] (28) in a manner analogous to methanol carbonylation to acetic acid. Methanol acetylation is an essential first step in anhydride manufacture by carbonylation. See Figure 1. The reactions are... 

Acetic Acid and Anhydride. Synthesis of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol is another important homogeneous catalytic reaction. The Monsanto acetic acid process developed in the late 1960s is the best known variant of the process. 

Monsanto acetic acid A process for making acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol, catalyzed by rhodium iodide. Operated by BP. 

It is now nearly 40 years since the introduction by Monsanto of a rhodium-catalysed process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol [1]. The so-called Monsanto process became the dominant method for manufacture of acetic acid and is one of the most successful examples of the commercial application of homogeneous catalysis. The rhodium-catalysed process was preceded by a cobalt-based system developed by BASF [2,3], which suffered from significantly lower selectivity and the necessity for much harsher conditions of temperature and pressure. Although the rhodium-catalysed system has much better activity and selectivity, the search has continued in recent years for new catalysts which improve efficiency even further. The strategies employed have involved either modifications to the rhodium-based system or the replacement of rhodium by another metal, in particular iridium. This chapter will describe some of the important recent advances in both rhodium- and iridium-catalysed methanol carbonylation. Particular emphasis will be placed on the fundamental organometallic chemistry and mechanistic understanding of these processes. 

This direct, oxidative condensation of methane to acetic acid in one-pot could be competitive with the current three-step, capital intensive process for the production of acetic acid based on methane reforming to CO, methanol synthesis from CO, and generation of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol. Key improvements required with the PdS04/H2S04 system, however, will be to develop more stable, faster, and more selective catalysts. Although it is possible sulfuric acid could be utilized industrially as a solvent and oxidant for this reaction, it would be desirable to replace sulfuric acid with a less corrosive material. This chemistry has recently been revisited, verified, and extended by Bell et al., who used Cu(II)/02 as the oxidizing system [22],... 

A major use of methanol is the production of acetic acid via carbonylation. 

On the scene of industrial chemistry, too, many sizable advances have occurred. Among them are processes for production of vinyl acetate from ethyl-ene/02/acetic acid over a heterogeneous Pd-catalyst the manufacture of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol using a transition metal complex homoge-... 

AO Plus [Acid Optimisation Plus] A process for making acetic acid by carbonylating methanol. Based on the Monsanto Acetic Acid process, but an improved catalyst (rhodium with lithium iodide) permits operation at lower levels of water. Developed by Celanese in the 1980s and operated by that company in Clear Lake, TX. Residual iodide in the product is removed by the Silverguard process. 

Monsanto acetic acid A process for making acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol, catalyzed by rhodium iodide. Operated by BP. A variation of this process, the low water process, used added Group 1 metal iodides such as lithium iodide to enhance the productivity this was practiced by Celenese and by Daicel. 

Another important and commercially essential example proving the variability of homogeneous catalysis is the synthesis of acetic acid via carbonylation of methanol. Here, too, a breakthrough was achieved by employing milder reaction... 

The production of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol (Equation (1)) can also be traced back to the 1950s when Reppe and coworkers at BASF developed a cobalt iodide catalyst that was effective for this reaction at relatively high temperatures and pressures 250 °C, 600 bar) [1,2]. 

Chlyoda Corp. Acetic acid Methanol and carbon monoxide (CO) In the ACETICA process, methanol and CO are reacted with the carbonylation reaction using a heterogeneous Rh catalyst 1 NA... 

Chemistry of Acetic Acid by Carbonylation. Two processes have been commercialized for the carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid. BASF understood the possibility of a methanol and carbon monoxide process for acetic acid, using a cobalt- and iodine-based catalyst, since the early 1920s. But development was held back by the lack of suitable construction materials for the severe operating conditions and corrosive environment necessary. The operating temperature is 250°C (482 F) and the required pressure is 680 bars (10,000 psig). In the late 1950s, development of molyb-... 

Nowadays, iodine is widely used for the manufacturing of X-ray contrast media, antimicrobial products, as tinctures of polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine (Povidone-iodine), catalysts in chemical processes (e.g. for the production of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a rhodium iodide-catalyst (Monsanto process) or an iridium iodide-catalyst (Cativa process)), and also on a smaller scale for the production of pharmaceuticals like thyroid hormones. [ 83 ]... 

Roth JF, Craddock JH, Hershmann A, Paulik FE. (1971, Jan) Low pressure process for acetic acid via carbonylation of methanol. Chemtech, 1 600-605. 

Suspend 0 25 g. of 2 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in 5 ml. of methanol and add 0-4 0-5 ml. of concentrated sulphuric acid cautiously. FUter the warm solution and add a solution of 0 1-0-2 g. of the carbonyl compound in a small volume of methanol or of ether. If no sohd separate within 10 minutes, dUute the solution carefuUy with 2N sulphuric acid. CoUect the solid by suction filtration and wash it with a little methanol. RecrystaUise the derivative from alcohol, dUute alcohol, alcohol with ethyl acetate or chloroform or acetone, acetic acid, dioxan, nitromethane, nitrobenzene or xylene. 

This process comprises passing synthesis gas over 5% rhodium on Si02 at 300°C and 2.0 MPa (20 atm). Principal coproducts are acetaldehyde, 24% acetic acid, 20% and ethanol, 16%. Although interest in new routes to acetaldehyde has fallen as a result of the reduced demand for this chemical, one possible new route to both acetaldehyde and ethanol is the reductive carbonylation of methanol (85). 

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). 

Commercial production of acetic acid has been revolutionized in the decade 1978—1988. Butane—naphtha Hquid-phase catalytic oxidation has declined precipitously as methanol [67-56-1] or methyl acetate [79-20-9] carbonylation has become the technology of choice in the world market. By-product acetic acid recovery in other hydrocarbon oxidations, eg, in xylene oxidation to terephthaUc acid and propylene conversion to acryflc acid, has also grown. Production from synthesis gas is increasing and the development of alternative raw materials is under serious consideration following widespread dislocations in the cost of raw material (see Chemurgy). 

Currently, almost all acetic acid produced commercially comes from acetaldehyde oxidation, methanol or methyl acetate carbonylation, or light hydrocarbon Hquid-phase oxidation. Comparatively small amounts are generated by butane Hquid-phase oxidation, direct ethanol oxidation, and synthesis gas. Large amounts of acetic acid are recycled industrially in the production of cellulose acetate, poly(vinyl alcohol), and aspirin and in a broad array of other... 

In 1968 a new methanol carbonylation process using rhodium promoted with iodide as catalyst was introduced by a modest letter (35). This catalyst possessed remarkable activity and selectivity for conversion to acetic acid. Nearly quantitative yields based on methanol were obtained at atmospheric pressure and a plant was built and operated in 1970 at Texas City, Tex. The effect on the world market has been exceptional (36). 

About half of the wodd production comes from methanol carbonylation and about one-third from acetaldehyde oxidation. Another tenth of the wodd capacity can be attributed to butane—naphtha Hquid-phase oxidation. Appreciable quantities of acetic acid are recovered from reactions involving peracetic acid. Precise statistics on acetic acid production are compHcated by recycling of acid from cellulose acetate and poly(vinyl alcohol) production. Acetic acid that is by-product from peracetic acid [79-21-0] is normally designated as virgin acid, yet acid from hydrolysis of cellulose acetate or poly(vinyl acetate) is designated recycle acid. Indeterrninate quantities of acetic acid are coproduced with acetic anhydride from coal-based carbon monoxide and unknown amounts are bartered or exchanged between corporations as a device to lessen transport costs. 

Acetic acid made by methanol carbonylation sometimes has traces of iodine or bromine if the acid comes from the high pressure route. 

The unit has virtually the same flow sheet (see Fig. 2) as that of methanol carbonylation to acetic acid (qv). Any water present in the methyl acetate feed is destroyed by recycle anhydride. Water impairs the catalyst. Carbonylation occurs in a sparged reactor, fitted with baffles to diminish entrainment of the catalyst-rich Hquid. Carbon monoxide is introduced at about 15—18 MPa from centrifugal, multistage compressors. Gaseous dimethyl ether from the reactor is recycled with the CO and occasional injections of methyl iodide and methyl acetate may be introduced. Near the end of the life of a catalyst charge, additional rhodium chloride, with or without a ligand, can be put into the system to increase anhydride production based on net noble metal introduced. The reaction is exothermic, thus no heat need be added and surplus heat can be recovered as low pressure steam. 

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