Terephthalic acid composition and process for the production thereof
AssigneeBP Corporation North America Inc.
InventorWilliam H. Gong
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Abstract
Terephthalic acid is prepared by reacting a 2,5-furandicarboxylate with ethylene in the presence of a solvent to produce a bicyclic ether; and then dehydrating the bicyclic ether. The process of the present invention effectively produces terephthalic acid, while reducing or eliminating the impurities, color bodies and carbon oxides produced in commercial practice by the liquid-phase oxidation of methyl-substituted benzene feedstocks.
Claims5
A terephthalic acid composition including a minor amount of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid as an impurity, the composition prepared by the steps comprising:
- a. reacting a 2,5-furandicarboxylate with ethylene in the presence of a solvent to produce a bicyclic ether at a temperature in the range of about 100° C. to about 250° C. and a pressure in the range of about 10 psig to about 2000 psig;
- and
- b. dehydrating the bicyclic ether.
A terephthalic acid composition comprising a minor amount of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid as an impurity wherein the terephthalic acid has a ratio of carbon-14 isotope to carbon-12 isotope of about 1.5 ×10−12 to 1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.