Oxidation process to produce 5-(alkoxycarbonyl)furan-2-carboxylic acids (ACFC)

A process to produce a carboxylic acid composition said process comprising:

• oxidizing in a oxidation zone at least one oxidizable compound in the presence of an oxidizing gas comprising oxygen and a solvent stream and a catalyst system at a temperature to produce a reaction medium comprising ACFC;
• wherein said oxidation zone comprises at least one oxidation reactor;
• wherein said oxidable compound comprises -methyl 5-methylfuran-2-carboxylate (MMFC), methyl 5-(hydroxymethyl)furan-2-carboxylate, methyl 5-(methoxymethyl)furan-2-carboxylate, methyl 5-(ethoxymethyl)furan-2-carboxylate, or combination thereof to generate a carboxylic acid composition comprising ACFC;
• wherein said ACFC is produced at a yield greater than 90%;
• wherein said catalyst system comprises cobalt in a range from about 100 ppm by weight to about 4500 ppm by weight with respect to the weight of the liquid in the reaction medium, manganese in an amount ranging from about 100 ppm by weight to about 4500 ppm by weight with respect to the weight of the liquid in the reaction medium, and bromine in an amount ranging from about 100 ppm by weight to about 4500 ppm by weight with respect to the weight of the liquid in the reaction medium;
• wherein said oxidizing is conducted at a temperature from about 110° C. to about 180° C.;
• wherein said oxidation zone comprises at least once oxidation reactor that has been previously been used in an industrial TPA or IPA process;
• and wherein said initial oxidation state of cobalt is 2+ and/or 3+, and wherein said initial oxidation state of manganese is 2+ and/or 3+.