Preparation of aromatic acids
AssigneeThe Penn State Research Foundation
InventorsAyusman Sen, Anne Pifer
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Abstract
A process for converting alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, such as p-xylene or 2,6-dimethyl naphthalene to their corresponding dicarboxylic acids is disclosed, said process comprising contacting the alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon with a gaseous mixture containing oxygen, NOx, where x is 1 or 2, and an inert gas, and heating the resulting mixture at a temperature from 90 .degree. C. to 250 .degree. C. and at a pressure of from 300 psi to 2500 psi for a period of time sufficient to convert the alkyl substitutents on the aromatic hydrocarbons to carboxyl groups.
Claims20
A process for the oxidation of an alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon having up to 14 nuclear carbon atoms, comprising contacting the alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon with a gas mixture comprising oxygen, NO.sub.x, where x is 1 or 2, and an inert gas at a temperature of from 90 .degree. C. to 250 .degree. C. and at a pressure of from 300 psi to 2500 psi for a period of time sufficient to convert alkyl substituents on said aromatic hydrocarbon to carboxyl groups.
A process for conversion of p-xylene to terephthalic acid, which comprises the steps of:
- (a) providing liquid p-xylene in a reaction zone;
- (b) adding a gas mixture comprising oxygen, NOx, where x is 1 or 2, and an inert gas to the reaction zone, such that the pressure in the reaction zone is from 300 psi to 2500 psi;
- and
- (c) heating the contents of the reaction zone to a temperature of from 90 .degree. C. to 250 .degree. C. for a period sufficient to convert at least a portion of the p-xylene to terephthalic acid.
A process for conversion of 2,6-dimethyl naphthalene to naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, which comprises the steps of:
- (a) introducing 2,6-dimethyl naphthalene to a reaction zone;
- (b) adding a gas mixture comprising oxygen, NOx, where x is 1 or 2, and an inert gas to the reaction zone, such that the pressure in the reaction zone is from 300 psi to 2500 psi;
- and
- (c) heating the contents of the reaction zone to a temperature of from 90 .degree. C. to 250 .degree. C. for a period sufficient to convert at least a portion of the 2,6-dimethyl naphthalene to naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.