Walker process acetaldehyde oxidation

Formaldehyde. Oxidation with air or oxygen of natural gas or propane and butane yields not only formaldehyde but also acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, tetrahydrofuran, methanol, propanol, butyl alcohols, and formic, acetic, and propionic acids. Such literature is covered by Walker (120, 121). Two reports on German processes for oxidation of methane to formaldehyde are given by Sherwood (254), and by Holm and Reichl (47). One of these processes indicates the almost exclusive formation of formaldehyde it is also indicated that the process was applied to ethane and propane with similar results. 

Walker process. The first successful industrial facility for the oxidation of hydrocarbon gases is apparently that based on the process developed by the Cities Service Oil Co Company in Tallant (Oklahoma), also known as the Walker process. The process was discovered by accident, as a result of studying the oxidation of natural gas as a probable cause of pipeline corrosion because of the formation of carboxylic acids. Partially stripped natural gas was used, into which air compressed to 21 atm was injected. The process was conducted over an aluminium phosphate catalyst without recycling at low conversion, pressure of 21 atm, and temperature of 425 °C. C e of the subsequent patents describes the oxidation of natural gas to a mixture of methanol, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde over a mixed catalyst composed of aluminium phosphate and metal oxides. The exhaust gas was discharged into the gas supply system for sale. The main products were methanol and formaldehyde [93,260,264]. 

Walker A process for partially oxidizing natural gas or LPG, forming a mixture of methanol, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde. Air is the oxidant and aluminum phosphate the catalyst. Invented by J. C. Walker in the 1920s and operated by the Cities Service Corporation, OK, in the 1950s. 

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