Oxidation process for the manufacture of aromatic acids from alkylaromatic compounds
AssigneeAmoco Corporation
InventorsWalter Partenheimer, Wayne P. Schammel
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Abstract
A novel method of oxidizing di- and trimethylbenzenes with molecular oxygen to the corresponding di- or tricarboxylic acid under liquid-phase conditions is disclosed. The process is conducted at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to 260.degree. C. This process comprises conducting the oxidation in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a source of bromine with nickel, manganese and zirconium. The benzene di- and tricarboxylic acids have wide industrial application, including the manufacture of polyesters, polyamides, and fibers and films.
Claims6
A process of oxidizing di- and trimethylbenzenes with molecular oxygen to benzene di- and tricarboxylic acids under liquid-phase conditions in the presence of an aliphatic acid having less than five carbon atoms or in the presence of water or in the presence of a mixture of the aliphatic acid and water at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to 260.degree. C. and at a pressure to maintain as liquid phase 70-80% of the reaction medium, which process comprises conducting said oxidation in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a source of bromine with nickel, zirconium and manganese wherein for each gram mole of p-xylene, m-xylene, or pseudocumene in the oxidation there is from about 4 to about 20 milligram atom nickel, about 0.10 to about 0.30 milligram atom zirconium, about 2 to about 10 milligram atom total of manganese and from about 8 to 24 milligram atoms bromine.
A process for liquid-phase oxidation of a pseudocumene with molecular oxygen under liquid-phase conditions at temperatures in the range of about 100.degree. C. to about 260.degree. C. and at a pressure to maintain as liquid phase 70-80% of the reaction medium, in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a source of bromine with nickel, zirconium and manganese wherein for each gram mole of pseudocumene in the oxidation there is from about 4 to about 20 milligram atom nickel, about 0.10 to about 0.30 milligram atom zirconium, about 2 to about 10 milligram atom total of manganese and from about 8 to 24 milligram atoms bromine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.