GB344449A - Improvements relating to the production of ketones - Google Patents

Abstract

The exothermic manufacture of acetone by the interaction of acetylene and steam at a raised temperature, is combined with the non-exothermic manufacture of acetone and other aliphatic ketones by the action of steam at a raised temperature on aliphatic alcohols having two or more carbon atoms in the molecule, or on the aldehydes, acids, or aliphatic esters derived therefrom, or on mixtures of these substances with one another or with other derivatives of the alcohols or with inert substances, e.g. methyl alcohol or acetate. The reaction is effected in the presence of catalysts of the kind described in Specification 302,759, [Class 2 (iii), Dyes &c.], i.e. oxygen compounds of heavy metals, particularly of iron, zinc, or nickel, with or without promoters such as aluminium oxide, barium carbonate, lime, or magnesia, or metals, particularly iron; mixed catalysts such as two or more oxides of iron, manganese, uranium, tungsten and molybdenum may also be used, with or without promoters. When the reaction mixture comprises acetylene and ethyl alcohol or its derivatives, such as acetaldehyde, acetic acid, or ethyl acetate, the product is acetone, but mixtures of acetylene with alcohols, aldehydes, &c. having more than two carbon atoms in the molecule, such as n-propanol or butyraldehyde, may yield asymmetric ketones. A suitable initial material is the residual acetylene, containing uncondensed acetaldehyde and a little water and acetic acid, obtained in the production of acetaldehyde from acetylene. The reaction temperature lies between 250 and 750 DEG C., preferably between 400 and 550 DEG C. In an example, acetone is produced by passing a mixture of ethyl alcohol vapour, acetylene, and steam at 470 DEG C. over rusty iron sponge mixed with a little manganese oxide.