Process for producing a cyclic acetal in a heterogeneous reaction system
AssigneeTicona LLC
InventorsMichael Haubs, Damian Feord, Joni Sianturi, Klaus Kurz, Jurgen Lingnau
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Abstract
A process for producing a cyclic acetal is disclosed. According to the process, a formaldehyde source is combined with an aprotic compound and contacted with a heterogeneous catalyst which causes the formaldehyde source to convert into a cyclic acetal such as trioxane. The catalyst, for instance, may comprise a solid catalyst such as an ion exchange resin. In one embodiment, the process is used for converting anhydrous formaldehyde gas to trioxane. The anhydrous formaldehyde gas may be produced form an aqueous formaldehyde solution by an extractive distillation.
Claims24
A process for producing a cyclic acetal comprising:
- contacting a formaldehyde source with a liquid medium comprising a liquid aprotic compound in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, the heterogeneous catalyst comprising a solid catalyst, the aprotic compound having a boiling point of 140° C. or higher, determined at 1 bar;
- and
- at least partially converting the formaldehyde source into a cyclic acetal.
A process for producing a cyclic acetal comprising:
- contacting a formaldehyde source with a liquid medium comprising a liquid aprotic compound in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, the heterogeneous catalyst comprising a solid catalyst;
- and
- at least partially converting the formaldehyde source into a cyclic acetal,
- wherein the heterogeneous catalyst is contained in a fixed bed and wherein the formaldehyde source and liquid medium flow through the fixed bed at a superficial liquid velocity of from about 5 m/hr to about 200 m/hr.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.