Integrated Process for the Production of Acrylic Acids and Acrylates

A process for producing an acrylate product, the process comprising the steps of:

• (a) reacting, over at least one oxidation catalyst, in a first reaction zone, a reaction gas mixture A comprising methanol, oxygen, and at least one diluent gas other than steam to form a product gas mixture A comprising formaldehyde, steam, and at least one inert diluent gas other than steam;
• (b) combining at least a portion of the product gas mixture A and acetic acid to form a reaction gas mixture B comprising acetic acid, formaldehyde, steam, and at least one diluent gas other than steam to form a product gas comprising formaldehyde, steam, and at least one inert diluent gas other than steam;
• (c) reacting, over at least one aldol condensation catalyst, in a second reaction zone, at least a portion of the acetic acid in the reaction gas input mixture B with at least a portion of the formaldehyde in the reaction gas input mixture B to form a product gas mixture B comprising acrylic acid, acetic acid, steam, and at least one inert diluent gas other than steam;
• and
• wherein the at least one aldol condensation catalyst comprises an active phase comprising vanadium and one or more of titanium and tungsten.