Scale Methyl Acrylate Oxidation Reaction and Work-Up

Large-Scale Methyl Acrylate Oxidation Reaction and Work-Up 

Having optimized the catalyst composition, temperature, pressure, and methanol/ methyl acrylate ratio, while knowing how to carry out the reaction safely, the reaction was scaled up in a 3l autoclave (Pd/Gu/Fe/methyl acrylate ratio of 

1/500/500/25 000 methanol/methyl acrylate = 16 70 G 13% O2 in N2 at 0.61 MPa). A two-layer system was obtained after neutrahzation and evaporation. Although analysis of the water layer showed that it contained more than 95% of the catalysts, these were not recycled as calculations for a lOOOt/year scale process showed that the financial benefit would be minimal. On an industrial scale, catalyst recycling would be carried out for environmental reasons. After removal of the water layer, 82% isolated yield was obtained by distillation. Furthermore, 90% of the methanol was recovered. 

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