Abstract: A process and apparatus for contacting (a) at least one gaseous reactant and (b) at least one liquid selected from the group consisting of reactants, coolants and mixtures thereof in the presence of a fluidized bed of catalyst, in which the liquid is introduced into the reactor through at least one inlet located within the fluidization zone and the gaseous reactant is introduced into the reactor through at least one inlet located within the fluidization zone adjacent the support means.

Abstract: A process for the fluid bed production of vinyl acetate which comprises reacting ethylene, acetic acid and an oxygen-containing gas in a fluid bed reactor at elevated temperature in the presence of a fluidised bed of catalyst, in which process, catalyst is added to said fluidised bed of catalyst, wherein the overall catalytic activity of the fluidised bed of catalyst is controlled to a pre-determined value by adjusting the activity and/or adjusting the rate of addition of said added catalyst.

Abstract: In a process for production of vinyl acetate by the reaction of ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen, ethylene is recovered from the gases withdrawn from the reactor and recycled such that the amount of ethylene in the combined feed to the reactor is at least 60 mol %.

Abstract: A reactor and process for using same, for containing a solid catalyst for heterogeneous gas-phase reactions into which reactor there extends at least one inlet pipe for a molecular oxygen-containing gas which has means for surrounding a substantial portion of the pipe in the reactor with an inert fluid and optionally also has means for suppressing ingress to the inlet pipe from the reactor of flame, reagents, products, catalyst or combinations thereof. The reactor and process are particularly suitable for fluid bed reactions.

Abstract: In a process for the production of vinyl acetate by reacting ethylene, acetic acid and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor to produce a process stream which is removed from the reactor as an outlet stream, the process is improved by maintaining the oxygen concentration of the outlet stream at or near its flammability limit.

Abstract: Process for the production of vinyl acetate in which ethylene, acid and oxygen-containing gas are combined at elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst material to produce (i) a product mixture comprising vinyl acetate, (ii) a liquid by-product comprising acetic acid and (iii) a gaseous by-product comprising carbon dioxide. The liquid by-product is separated from the product mixture and treated to reduce the water content therein before being recycled to the reactor such that the water entering the reactor comprises less than 6 wt %, (preferably less than 4 wt %, more preferably less than 3 wt %) of the total of acetic acid and water entering the reactor.

Abstract: In the process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylation of methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof the water concentration in the liquid reaction composition is maintained at a steady-state concentration by at least one process step selected from the group consisting of (i) recovery and disposing of water from at least part of the overhead process stream from the light ends column and (ii) replacing at least a portion of the methanol feed with a component selected from the group consisting of methyl acetate, dimethyl ether, acetic anhydride and mixtures thereof. The recovered aqueous effluent from this and other processes may be purified of carboxylic acid by reactive distillation with at least one C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 alcohol.

Abstract: In a process for purifying a carboxylic acid fraction obtained by liquid phase carbonylation of an alkyl alcohol and/or its reactive derivative in which volatile iridium- and/or volatile co-promoter contaminants are converted to involatile forms by contacting with an iodide in the absence of carbon monoxide or at a partial pressure less than that of the carbonylation reaction. The involatile contaminants are then separated from the carboxylic acid.

Abstract: In a process for removing iodide compounds from a liquid composition comprising carboxylic acids having 2 to 6 carbon atoms or anhydrides thereof, by passing the liquid composition through a silver, mercury, palladium and/or rhodium-exchanged strong acid cation exchange resin, prior to contacting with the metal-exchanged resin the composition is contacted with a cation exchanger in the acid form to remove at least a portion of the metal ion contaminants in the liquid composition which have been found to displace the silver, mercury, palladium and/or rhodium from the metal-exchanged resin.