Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid comprises (1) continuously feeding methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof and carbon monoxide to a carbonylation reactor containing a liquid reaction composition comprising an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst, a finite concentration of water, acetic acid, methyl acetate and, optionally at least one promoter, (2) carbonylating the methanol and/or reactive derivative thereof with the carbon monoxide in the liquid reaction composition to produce acetic acid; and (3) recovering acetic acid from the liquid reaction composition, there being continuously maintained (a) in the liquid reaction composition water at a concentration of no greater than 4.5% by weight, and (b) in the reactor a carbon monoxide partial pressure in the range from greater than 0 to 7.5 bar.

Abstract: A process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylating with carbon monoxide methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof in a carbonylation reactor containing a liquid reaction composition comprising an iridium carbonylation catalyst, methyl iodide co-catalyst, a finite concentration of water, acetic acid, methyl acetate and at least one promoter wherein the water concentration is at or below that at which the maximum in the graph of carbonylation rate versus water concentration occurs and there is employed in the liquid reaction composition a co-promoter selected from alkali metal iodides, alkaline earth metal iodides, metal complexes capable of generating I.sup.-, salts capable of generating I.sup.-, and mixtures of two or more thereof.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of polyketones wherein carbon monoxide and at least one olefin are polymerized in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst is prepared by reacting together a promotor; a source of a Group VIII metal; and a compound of the formula A.sub.2 PR.sup.1 PA.sub.2 wherein each A is independently a hydrocarbyl group or a Group B bonded to the phosphorous of the PA.sub.2 moiety directly through a nitrogen, sulphur or oxygen and R.sup.1 is a divalent organic group, with the proviso that at least one of the two A groups bonded to each phosphorous is a Group B.