GB334189A - Manufacture of aliphatic compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

334,189. British Celanese, Ltd., Green, S. J., and Handley, R. May 27, 1929. Acids; esters.-The reaction gases or vapours obtained in the preparation of oxygenated organic compounds by circulating mixtures of carbon monoxide (or carbon monoxide and hydrogen) with vapours of aliphatic alcohols, esters, or ethers over heated catalysts, are freed from undesired condensation products, for instance paraffin hydrocarbons, by means of absorbents such as absorbent charcoal, active carbon, or silica gel, which are capable of absorbing paraffin hydrocarbons or other gaseous or vaporous substances. As examples of suitable gas mixtures which may be employed in the process, carbon monoxide (or carbon monoxide and hydrogen), together with methanol, methylacetate, methylformate, or dimethylether are mentioned. An inorganic catalyst such as described in Specification 283,989, particularly phosphoric acid, may advantageously be used. An example is given of the preparation of acetic acid in which carbon monoxide is mixed with the vapour of methyl alcohol or aqueous methyl alcohol and pumped through a heat exchanger into the reaction chamber containing, for example, phosphoric acid. The products are passed through the heat exchanger to a condenser provided with a receiver in which uncondensed gases are separated from the liquid products. The gases are then passed through one or more vessels or towers filled with absorbent or active carbon or silica gel, and returned again to the gas circulating pump.