GB912686A - A process for the oxidation of olefinic hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

Unsaturated aldehydes and ketones are produced by passing a molecular oxygen-containing gas and steam through a fluidised bed of a heavy metal-containing oxidation catalyst, thereby entraining the catalyst in suspended form in the gas leaving the catalyst bed, adding an olefinic hydrocarbon having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule to the suspension, passing the mixture through an externally cooled elongated reaction zone maintained at 250-750 DEG C. while maintaining the catalyst in suspended state, separating the catalyst from the effluent from the reaction zone, and obtaining an a .b -unsaturated aldehyde or ketone from the effluent. Suitable catalysts are, for example, tellurium oxide alone or in combination with an oxide of molybdenum, tungsten or uranium; copper oxide in combination with a metal of the palladium-platinum group or with Group VIII elements of the fourth series; selenites and tellurites of silver, lead, iron, cobalt, nickel or cadmium; copper and silica gel with cadmium, cobalt, molybdenum, thorium, manganese, calcium or titanium; and selenium in combination with an oxide of copper, vanadium, tellurium, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, uranium, or tin, or with copper aluminate or silicate. The preferred catalysts are those containing oxides of molybdenum and bismuth, e.g. bismuth molybdate, and, if desired, these catalysts may be modified by the addition of phosphorus or phosphorus compounds. The catalyst may be, for example, bismuth phosphomolybdate. The catalysts may be used with conventional supports. The catalyst separated from the reactor effluent may be passed into a catalyst cooling zone through which oxygen is passed thereby forming the suspension, the catalyst being cooled by indirect heat exchange with water so that steam is formed. The olefine used as starting material may be mixed with one or more saturated hydrocarbons. Suitable starting olefins are, for example, propylene, butene-1-ol-2, isobutylene, pentene-1-ol-2, 3-methyl-pentene-1, 2-methyl-butene - 1, hexene - 1, hexene - 2, 4 - methyl-pentene-1, 3,3 - dimethyl - butene-1, 4-methyl-pentene-1, octene-1, cyclopentene, cyclohexene and 3-methyl-cyclohexene. Specification 912,687 is referred to. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 821,999.