Process for oxidation of methane to acetic acid

• Main Authors: KAHROS ARGYRIS, BELL ALEXIS T, ZERELLA MARK T
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.04.2007
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Acetic acid or derivatives such as methyl acetate and acetyl sulfate, are produced from methane by contacting a methane-containing feed with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a palladium-containing catalyst and an acid selected from concentrated sulfuric acid and fuming sulfuric acid. The process is carried out using an oxygen partial pressure of from about 30 to about 300 psi and most preferably from about 60 to about 200 psi, a methane partial pressure of from about 100 to about 1000 psi, and most preferably from about 100 to about 400 psi, and a total pressure of oxygen and methane of from about 130 to about 1300 psi, preferably from about 200 to about 600 psi. The process is carried out in the absence of a catalyst promoter.