Ester synthesis
AssigneeBP Chemicals Limited
InventorsMartin Philip Atkins, Bhushan Sharma
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Abstract
This invention relates to a process for the production of lower aliphatic esters by reacting a lower olefin with a saturated lower aliphatic mono-carboxylic acid in the vapor phase in the presence of a heteropolyacid catalyst characterized in that an amount of water in the range from 1-10 mole % based on the total of the olefin, aliphatic mono-carboxylic acid and water is added to the reaction mixture during the reaction. The presence of water enhances the yield of the desired ester. The reaction mixture may optionally contain a di-ether to minimize the by-products. The process is particularly suitable for producing ethyl acetate from ethylene and acetic acid in the presence of water.
Claims27
A process for the production of lower aliphatic esters said process comprising reacting a lower olefin with a saturated lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acid in the vapour phase in the presence of a free acid silico-tungstic heteropolyacid catalyst supported on a siliceous support characterized in that an amount of water in the range from 1-10 mole % based on the total of the olefin, aliphatic mono-carboxylic acid and water is added to the reaction mixture during the reaction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.