Process for the preparation of diacetoxybutene

Abstract

In a process for preparing diacetoxybutene by subjecting butadiene, acetic acid and oxygen to reaction, the discharge gas from the reaction system or purification system, containing butadiene and/or acetic acid, is treated by contacting with diacetoxybutene and/or diacetoxybutane (absorbent) to allow butadiene and/or acetic acid to be absorbed by said absorbent. A part of the diacetoxybutene separated in a distillation tower from the reaction product solution containing diacetoxybutene produced by said three-component reaction can be used as said absorbent. In this case, butadiene and/or acetic acid can be recovered from said discharge gas by supplying the absorption solution into said distillation tower. Also usable as said absorbent is diacetoxybutane obtained by hydrogenation of diacetoxybutene. In this case, it is possible to recover butadiene and/or acetic acid by supplying the obtained absorption solution into said distillation tower and further transferring the obtained mixture of diacetoxybutene and diacetoxybutane to the hydrogenation step without separation. In said process for preparing diacetoxybutene, the substantial portion of the discharge gas from the reaction system may be circulated back to the reaction system for reuse, and the remaining discharge gas may be supplied into an absorption tower.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.