Abstract: Catalysts and processes for making catalysts suitable for use in processes for hydrogenating acetic acid to form of ethyl acetate and mixtures of ethyl acetate and ethanol. In a first embodiment, the catalyst includes a high loading of nickel, palladium or platinum. In a second embodiment, the catalyst comprises a first metal selected from nickel and palladium and a second metal selected from tin and zinc. In a third embodiment, the catalyst comprises one or more metals on a support that has been modified with an acidic support modifier or a redox support modifier.

Abstract: This invention provides an integrated multistep economical process for the production of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) from acetic acid in the vapor phase. First, acetic acid is selectively hydrogenated over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde so formed can be converted to ethylidene diacetate via reaction with acetic anhydride. In a subsequent step so formed ethylidene diacetate is thermally decomposed to form VAM and acetic acid. Alternatively, acetaldehyde formed in the first step can selectively be reacted with ketene to form VAM. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over platinum and iron supported on silica selectively produces acetaldehyde in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 300° C., which is selectively hydrogenated over platinum supported catalyst to form ethanol and dehydrated over NAFION catalyst to form ethylene at a temperature of about 185° C.

Abstract: This invention provides an integrated three step economical process for the production of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) from acetic acid in the vapor phase. First, acetic acid is selectively hydrogenated over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethyl acetate which is cracked to form ethylene and acetic acid in the second step and in a subsequent step so formed ethylene and acetic acid is reacted with molecular oxygen over a suitable catalyst to form VAM. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over platinum and copper supported on silica selectively produces ethyl acetate in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 250° C., which is cracked over a NAFION catalyst to form ethylene and acetic acid at a temperature of about 185° C., which is mixed with molecular oxygen and reacted over a palladium/gold/potassium catalyst supported on titania to form VAM at a temperature of about 150° C. to 170° C.

Abstract: This invention provides an integrated two stage economical process for the production of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) from acetic acid in the vapor phase. First, acetic acid is selectively hydrogenated over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethylene either in a single reactor zone or in a dual rector zone wherein the intermediate hydrogenated products are either dehydrated and/or cracked to form ethylene. In a subsequent second stage so formed ethylene is reacted with molecular oxygen and acetic acid over a suitable catalyst to form VAM.

Abstract: A process for selective formation of ethylene from acetic acid includes contacting a feed stream containing acetic acid and hydrogen at an elevated temperature with a first catalytic composition including a suitable hydrogenating catalyst in a first reaction zone to form an intermediate mixture including ethanol and ethyl acetate; and subsequently reacting the intermediate mixture over a suitable dehydrating and/or cracking catalyst in a second reaction zone to form ethylene. Selectivities of ethylene of over 80% are achieved.

Abstract: A process for the selective production of ethylene by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethylene in a single reaction zone is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over either a copper supported on iron oxide, copper-aluminum catalyst, cobalt supported on H-ZSM-5, ruthenium-cobalt supported on silica or cobalt supported on carbon selectively produces ethylene in a vapor phase at a temperature in the range of about 250° C. to 350° C.

Abstract: A process for the selective production of ethyl acetate by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethyl acetate is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over platinum and copper supported on silica selectively produces ethyl acetate in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 250° C.

Abstract: A process for the selective production of ethanol by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethanol is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over a platinum and tin supported on silica, graphite, calcium silicate or silica-alumina selectively produces ethanol in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 250° C.

Abstract: A process for the selective production of acetaldehyde by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form acetaldehyde is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over platinum and iron supported on silica selectively produces acetaldehyde in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 300° C.

Abstract: A process for the selective production of ethanol by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethanol is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over either cobalt and palladium supported on graphite or cobalt and platinum supported on silica selectively produces ethanol in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 250° C.