Abstract: A catalyst and process for the production of acetic acid by the carbonylation of methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof. The catalyst system comprises an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst, optionally at least one of ruthenium, osmium, rhenium, zinc, gallium, tungsten, cadmium, mercury and indium and at least one non-hydrohalogenoic acid promoter. The non-hydrohalogenoic acid may be an oxoacid, a superacid and/or a heteropolyacid.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylating methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide in the presence of a promoted iridium carbonylation catalyst wherein the promoters are boron and gallium.

Abstract: A process for the carbonylation of dimethyl ether, dimethyl carbonate and/or methanol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a mordenite catalyst to produce at least one of acetic acid and methyl acetate in which process the mordenite catalyst is regenerated in-situ by contacting the catalyst with a regenerating gas comprising a molecular oxygen-containing gas and an inert diluent at a total pressure in the range 1 to 100 bar and wherein the partial pressure of the molecular oxygen-containing gas is such that the temperature of the catalyst is maintained within the range 225 to 325° C.

Abstract: Process for the conversion of hydrocarbons to ethanol and optionally acetic acid by converting hydrocarbon in a syngas reactor into a stream A comprising a mixture of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen preferably having a H2/CO molar ratio between 1.5 and 2.5, converting at least part of stream A in the presence of a particulate catalyst in a reactor under a temperature between 150 and 400° C. and a pressure of 5 to 200 bar, into a C2-oxygenates stream B, where stream B includes water, alkanes, ethanol, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate and acetic acid, which together represent least 80% by weight of the products obtained from the C2-oxygenates conversion reactor. The C2-oxygenates stream B is separated into a stream C comprising H2, CO, CO2 and alkanes, and a stream D including 15 to 40 wt % of acetic acid, 10 to 40 wt % of acetaldehyde and 15 to 40 wt % of ethanol.

Abstract: A carbonylation process for the production of a carbonylation product such as a carboxylic acid and a carboxylic acid ester by contacting carbon monoxide with a feed comprising an alcohol such as methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof such as methyl acetate in the vapor phase using a heterogeneous heteropolyacid catalyst which has been ion-exchanged or loaded with at least one metal selected from rhodium, iridium, copper and palladium and a Group IA metal selected from lithium, sodium, potassium and rubidium.

Abstract: Process for the conversion of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen containing feedstocks to oxygen-containing hydrocarbon compounds in the presence of a particulate catalyst, by reacting carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen in the presence of a particulate catalyst in a conversion reactor to form oxygen-containing hydrocarbon compounds. A saturated monocarboxylic acid having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and/or an ester of a saturated monocarboxylic acid having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms with a monohydric aliphatic paraffinic alcohol having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms is added to the conversion reactor.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of methyl acetate by the carbonylation of dimethyl ether or dimethyl carbonate with carbon monoxide under substantially anhydrous conditions in the presence of a Group TB metal loaded mordenite catalyst prepared by ion-exchanging mordenite with at least one Group IB metal, the ion-exchanged mordenite having a molar ratio of the Group IB metal to total aluminium present in the mordenite in the range 5 to 50 mol %.

Abstract: Process for the selective removal of Iridium carbonylation catalyst metal and/or at least one promoter selected from ruthenium, osmium and rhenium from a liquid composition comprising a carbonylation product, iridium carbonylation catalyst metal and/or the promoter metal, corrosion metals and optionally alkali or alkaline earth metals. The process is carried out by contacting the liquid composition with a chelating resin to remove at least a portion of the iridium carbonylation catalyst metal and/or at least one promoter metal contained in the liquid composition. The chelating resin contains at least one thiourea functional group. The process is suitable for treating process streams obtained in the production of carboxylic acids and/or carboxylic anhydrides.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid which process comprises carbonylating methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof in a liquid reaction composition in which there exists in equilibrium, at least a first soluble catalytic species and a second soluble catalytic species, wherein the first catalytic species is the least catalytically active or promotionally active of the species existing in the equilibrium, comprises determining (i) the concentration of the first catalytic species and/or (ii) the ratio of the concentration of the first catalytic species to the concentration of the second catalytic species in equilibrium therewith, present in the liquid reaction composition and/or a present in a liquid fraction in a separation step and maintaining (i) and/or (ii) below a pre-determined value, preferably by adjusting the concentration of at least the first catalytic species present in the liquid reaction composition and/or liquid fraction.

Abstract: A process for the production of a hydrocarbon which comprises contacting, in a reactor, methanol and/or dimethyl ether with a catalyst comprising a metal halide, such as a zinc halide, in which the methanol and/or dimethyl ether is contacted with the catalyst in the presence of at least one phosphorus compound having at least one P—H bond.

Abstract: Process for preparing an aliphatic carboxylic acid having (n+1) carbon atoms, where n is an integer up to 6, and/or the ester derivative thereof by contacting an aliphatic alcohol having n carbon atoms and/or a reactive derivative thereof selected from dialkyl ether, ester of the alcohol and an alkyl halide with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst consists of mordenite which has been ion- exchanged or otherwise loaded with silver.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylating methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide in the presence of an iridium promoted carbonylation catalyst wherein the promoters are ruthenium and at least one of niobium and tantalum.

Abstract: A catalyst composition and its use for the oxidation of ethane to ethylene and acetic acid which comprises (i) a support, and (ii) in combination with oxygen, the elements molybdenum, vanadium and niobium, optionally tungsten and a component Z, which is one or more metals of Group 14 of the Periodic Table of Elements; a, b, c, d and e represent the gram atom ratios of the elements Mo, W, Z, V and Nb respectively, such that 0<a?1; 0?b<1 and a+b=1; 0.05<c?2; 0<d?2; and 0<e?1.

Abstract: Production of methyl acetate by carbonylating a dimethyl ether feed with carbon monoxide under substantially anhydrous conditions, in the presence of a zeolite catalyst at a temperature in the range of greater than 250° C. to 350° C. and at a pressure in the range greater than 10 barg to 100 barg.

Abstract: Production of methyl acetate by carbonylating a dimethyl ether feed with carbon monoxide under substantially anhydrous conditions, in the presence of a mordenite catalyst which contains copper and/or silver and 0.05 to 10 mol % platinum relative to aluminium.

Abstract: An oxide catalyst composition comprising the elements molybdenum, vanadium, niobium and titanium and a process for making the catalyst composition. A process for the selective oxidation of ethane and/or ethylene to acetic acid using the catalyst composition. The catalyst composition provides high selectivity to acetic acid with reduced selectivity to ethylene.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylating methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide in at least one carbonylation reaction zone containing a liquid reaction composition comprising an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst, a finite concentration of water, acetic acid, methyl acetate, at least one promoter selected from ruthenium, osmium and rhenium and at least one catalyst system stabiliser selected from indium, cadmium, mercury, gallium and zinc and wherein the molar ratio of iridium:promoter:stabiliser in the liquid reaction composition is maintained in the range 1:(>2 to 15):(0.25 to 12).

Abstract: The present invention provides a process, that has a reduced level of CO2 emissions, for the conversion of hydrocarbons into alcohol(s) in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: Preparation of an aliphatic carboxylic acid having (n+1) carbon atoms, where n is an integer up to 6, and/or an ester or anhydride thereof may be achieved by contacting an aliphatic alcohol having n carbon atoms and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide substantially in the absence of the halogens or derivatives thereof at a temperature in the range 250-600° C. and at a pressure in the range 10 to 200 bars, in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of a mordenite which has, as framework elements, silicon, aluminum and one or more of gallium, boron and iron, and which has been ion-exchanged or otherwise loaded with copper, nickel, iridium, rhodium or cobalt.

Abstract: A process for the carbonylation of an alcohol and/or reactive derivative thereof, in which one or more reaction zone feed streams are fed to a reaction zone in which exothermic carbonylation takes place to produce one or more product streams. Heat from at least a portion of the one or more product streams is fed to a first heat-exchange stream, such as a supply of pressurised steam. The process is characterised by heat from a second heat-exchange stream, having a temperature lower than that of the one or more product streams, being transferred to a reaction zone feed stream, so that the one or more product streams comprise heat originating from the second heat-exchange stream and heat generated by the exothermic carbonylation reaction. Thus, heat originating from the second heat-exchange stream can be transferred to the first heat-exchange stream, resulting in reduced heat loss and greater process efficiency.