Process for production of acrylates from epoxides

A method for the synthesis of acrylate esters comprising the steps of:

• providing a gaseous feedstock stream comprising ethylene oxide and carbon monoxide;
• directing the feedstock stream to a first reaction zone where it is contacted with a metal carbonyl compound and where at least a portion of the ethylene oxide is converted to a carbonylation product stream comprising beta propiolactone;
• adding a C1-8 alcohol to the carbonylation product stream comprising beta propiolactone;
• directing the carbonylation product stream comprising beta propiolactone and the C1-8 alcohol to a second reaction zone where it is contacted with a catalyst which catalyzes the conversion of beta propiolactone and the C1-8 alcohol to the corresponding acrylic acid ester, wherein the conversion to acrylic acid ester is performed in a continuous flow format;
• withdrawing an acrylic acid ester product stream from the second reaction zone;
• and
• isolating an acrylate ester from the acrylic acid ester product stream.

A method for the synthesis of acrylic acid comprising the steps of:

• providing an ethylene stream;
• contacting the ethylene stream with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst to provide an ethylene oxide stream;
• adding carbon monoxide to the ethylene oxide stream to provide a feedstock stream;
• directing the feedstock stream to a first reaction zone where it is contacted with a metal carbonyl compound and where at least a portion of the ethylene oxide is converted to a carbonylation product stream comprising beta propiolactone;
• directing the carbonylation product stream to a second reaction zone where it is contacted with a catalyst, which catalyzes the conversion of beta propiolactone to acrylic acid, wherein the conversion of beta propiolactone to acrylic acid is performed in a continuous flow format;
• withdrawing an acrylic acid product stream from the second reaction zone;
• and
• isolating acrylic acid from the product stream.