Oxidation process

A method of synthesizing a mixture of organic acids, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) combining, over time, in one or more closed reaction vessels, under a positive pressure of oxygen and with continuous mixing, an organic compound suitable for nitric acid oxidation and an aqueous solution of nitric acid to form a first reaction mixture, wherein the organic compound and the aqueous solution of nitric acid are introduced into the one or more closed reaction vessels;
• (b) flowing said first reaction mixture through the one or more reaction vessels while maintaining a controlled temperature of from about 5° C. to about 105° C. and controlled positive pressure of oxygen of from about 0 bar g to about 1000 bar g for a time period suitable to oxidize the organic compound to a subsequent reaction mixture comprising a mixture of organic acid products and nitrogen oxides;
• (c) recirculating the subsequent reaction mixture to the reaction vessel vapor space headspace;
• and
• (d) recovering nitric acid from the subsequent reaction mixture.