Process for preparing acrylic acid from ethanol and formaldehyde

US8507721B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Stefanie Herzog · Mannheim, DE
• Stefan Altwasser · Monsheim, DE
• Markus Ottenbacher · Wilhelmsfeld, DE
• Frank Huetten · Mannheim, DE
• Annebart Engbert Wentink · Palo Alto, US
• Alexander Christoph Schaefer · Frankfurt am Main, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 14, 2011
• Grant date: Aug 13, 2013
• Expiry date: Sep 14, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07B2200/05
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for preparing acrylic acid from ethanol and formaldehyde, in which, in a reaction zone A, the ethanol is partially oxidized to acetic acid in a heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase reaction, the product gas mixture A obtained and a formaldehyde source are used to obtain a reaction gas input mixture B which comprises acetic acid and formaldehyde and has the acetic acid in excess over the formaldehyde, and the formaldehyde present in reaction gas input mixture B is aldol-condensed with acetic acid present in reaction gas input mixture B to acrylic acid under heterogeneous catalysis in a reaction zone B, and unconverted acetic acid still present along-side the acrylic acid target product in the product gas mixture B obtained is removed therefrom, and the acetic acid removed is recycled into the production of reaction gas input mixture B.