Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing an aromatic carboxylic acid comprising oxidizing in the liquid phase an aromatic feed compound containing at least one alkyl or acyl group with a molecular oxygen-containing gas, in a solvent comprising a low molecular weight aliphatic carboxylic acid, and in the presence of a heavy metal oxidation catalyst, thereby forming an oxidation reaction product mixture comprising an aromatic carboxylic acid; subsequently heating the oxidation reaction product mixture at a temperature of at least about 500.degree. F. to form a second product mixture; and recovering from the second product mixture the aromatic carboxylic acid. The method of this invention provides for purer, larger particle size aromatic carboxylic acid product.

Abstract: Provided is a continuous process for producing 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid by the liquid phase oxidation of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene comprising continuously adding to a reaction zone the oxidation reaction components comprising 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, a source of molecular oxygen, a solvent comprising an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, and a catalyst comprising cobalt, manganese and bromine components, wherein the atom ratio of manganese to cobalt is about 5:1 to about 0.3:1, the total of cobalt and manganese is at least about 0.40 weight percent based on the weight of solvent, and maintaining the contents of the reaction zone at a temperature of about 370.degree. F. to about 420.degree. F. and at a pressure sufficient to maintain at least a portion of the monocarboxylic acid in the liquid phase thereby oxidizing the 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene to 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: Aromatic dicarboxylic acids, specifically 4,4'-dicarboxydiphenyl ether, terephthalic acid, 4,4'-carboxybis(benzoic acid) and the like, are purified by dissolving the crude acid in a monocarboxylic acid anhydride, purifying the resulting solution, and recovering a purified acid product therefrom.

Abstract: A method for making 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid by the oxidation of 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene or its oxidation derivatives in the presence of a catalyst comprising cobalt, manganese, cerium and bromine components is disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the liquid-phase oxidation of a di- (mono- or poly-)alkylaryl ether in the presence of a catalyst comprising cobalt, manganese and bromine components to a di- (mono- or poly-)carboxyaryl ether.

Abstract: Aryl arylate esters substituted with an acyl moiety on both the aryl and arylate groups of said esters which can be produced by the oxidation of alkyl substituted aryl arylate esters using a heavy metal/bromine catalyst.

Abstract: Aryl arylate esters substituted with an acyl moiety on both the aryl and arylate groups of said esters which can be produced by the oxidation of alkyl substituted aryl arylate esters using a heavy metal/bromine catalyst.

Abstract: A thermal process for the decarboxylation and dehydration of aromatic acid residue to convert such residue to grindable form and recover the solvent of reaction therefrom.

Abstract: A catalyst for the oxidation of hydrocarbons comprising a phosphorus and vanadium mixed oxide wherein the catalyst prepared by using an organic medium can be recycled according to our process thus conserving up to ninety percent of the vanadium used in the preparation of the catalyst. The mixed oxide can also be promoted by a transitional element of the IV and V period of the periodic table. These catalysts are particularly useful for the oxidation of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons to maleic anhydride.

Abstract: An improved two-step catalytic neat oxidation of liquid xylene is provided wherein there is no separation of oxidation products from the first oxidation step nor minimum limitation imposed on the liquid o-xylene concentration entering the second step according to the prior two-step oxidations of o-xylene. Rather the first step is conducted under conditions such that the liquid effluent from the first step contains from 6 up to 30 weight percent liquid o-xylene and from 8 up to 40 weight percent o-phthalic acid and such effluent is directly oxidized with air in the second step. By such improved two-step oxidation there is obtained a liquid product containing o-phthalic acid in yields of up to 85-87% of the theoretical yield and also containing impurities separable from o-phthalic acid after it has been converted to its anhydride in vapor form and the anhydride vapors are separated from water vapor.

Abstract: A novel process for obtaining maleic anhydride having age molten and Hazen color below 125 after 20 hours at 140.degree. C., said process comprising polymerizing at a temperature of about 53.degree. to 90.degree. C. in the presence of metal chloride catalyst, color bodies present in crude maleic anhydride prior to fractionating the crude maleic anhydride and distilling off the purified maleic anhydride.

Abstract: Catalytic liquid phase molecular oxygen oxidation of methyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons having two or more methyl-substituents on adjacent ring carbon atoms in acetic acid reaction medium have, in general, resulted in a substantial production of the desired ortho-oriented di-, tri-, and higher polycarboxylic substituted aromatic acids but also in the co-production of substantial amounts of oxygenated intermediates including methyl-substituted mono- and non-ortho polycarboxylic acids. Several theories have been proposed, including inherent auto-inhibiton, for such incomplete oxidations.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of o-phthalic acid by the oxidation of liquid o-xylene with a source of molecular oxygen at a temperature in the range of from 150.degree. C. up to 235.degree. C. in the presence of catalysis provided by the combination of components which include a source of bromine and at least cobalt as metal oxidation catalyst, in the presence of liquid water in an amount to activate said catalysis and solubilize a catalytically effective amount of metal oxidation catalyst in liquid phthalic acid and under conditions which retain substantially all the o-phthalic acid in the free acid form but in the absence of any material extraneous to the oxidation reaction or its products as solvent.Such preparative process results in yields of 85 to 92 mole percent and higher to o-phthalic acid in but a single oxidation step with recycle thereto of only o-xylene vaporized from the reaction zone and recovered.

Abstract: Phthalic anhydride of commercially acceptable quality can be recovered from the neat catalytic oxidation of liquid o-xylene with air in the presence of the catalysis system provided by cobalt, manganese and bromine conducted in a single step and in the presence of a small amount of benzoic acid to make miscible liquid o-phthalic acid and liquid oxylene conducted in a single step to an 80 to 90 mole percent yield of o-phthalic acid provided the resulting liquid oxidation effluent is subjected to rapid dehydration of o-phthalic acid to its anhydride and rapid evaporation of the anhydride, water and compounds boiling between water and said anhydride which evaporation entrains phthalide in the vapor mixture followed by contact of the vapor mixture with Pd/C and introducing the vapor mixture into a fractionating system whose reflux liquid is inert, boils at a temperature below the boiling temperature of phthalic anhydride and is a solvent therefor at a temperature below the freezing temperature of said anhydride w

Abstract: Phthalic anhydride of commercially acceptable quality can be produced continuously in yields of from about 80 up to about 83 mole percent (% of theoretical) through a combination of steps starting with the neat oxidation of liquid o-xylene with air in the presence of the catalysis provided by cobalt, manganese and bromine. Said oxidation is conducted in two steps wherein the first step is conducted under mild conditions and short residence time to provide a liquid effluent containing 8 to 40 weight percent o-phthalic acid and 6 to 30 weight percent o-xylene and the second step oxidizes such liquid effluent composition under more vigorous conditions including higher reaction temperature and longer residence time until substantially all of the o-xylene and precursors of o-phthalic acid have been converted to o-phthalic acid.

Abstract: Phthalic anhydride of commercially acceptable quality can be recovered from the neat oxidation of liquid o-xylene with air in the presence of the catalysis system provided by cobalt, manganese and bromine conducted in a single step and in the presence of a small amount of benzoic acid to make miscible liquid o-phthalic acid and liquid o-xylene conducted in a single step to an 85 to 90 mole percent yield of o-phthalic acid provided the resulting liquid oxidation effluent is subjected to rapid dehydration of o-phthalic acid to its anhydride and rapid evaporation of the anhydride, water and compounds boiling between water and said anhydride which evaporation entrains phthalide in the vapor mixture followed by contact of the vapor mixture in a fractionating system whose reflux liquid is inert, boils at a temperature below the boiling temperature of phthalic anhydride and is a solvent therefor at a temperature below the freezing temperature of said anhydride whereby impure liquid anhydride is withdrawn as a water

Abstract: Phthalic anhydride of commercially acceptable quality can be produced continuously in yields of from about 80 up to about 83 mole percent (% of theoretical) through a combination of steps starting with the neat oxidation of liquid o-xylene with air in the presence of catalysis provided by cobalt, manganese and bromine. Said oxidation is conducted in two steps wherein the first step is conducted under mild conditions and short residence time to provide a liquid effluent containing 8 to 40 weight percent o-phthalic acid and 6 to 30 weight percent o-xylene and the second step oxidizes such liquid effluent composition under more vigorous conditions including higher reaction temperature and longer residence time until substantially all the o-xylene and precursors of o-phthalic acid have been converted to o-phthalic acid.

Abstract: This invention relates to the neat air oxidation of liquid o-xylene in a continuous manner in a single step to overcome the limited conversion of the process of British Patent Specification No. 856,245 or of the process of U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,735. More specifically this invention overcomes the limited conversion of o-xylene by its single step air oxidation in the presence of catalysis provided by ions of cobalt, manganese and bromine not only by maintaining the proper relationship of temperature, pressure and free water concentration in the reaction mixture to minimize the conversion of o-phthalic acid to its intramolecular anhydride but also by conducting the oxidation in the presence of small amounts of acetic or benzoic acid to make miscible the otherwise immiscible liquid phases of liquid o-xylene and liquid o-phthalic acid containing components of catalysis and free liquid water.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of the subject aqueous solution from a non-bromine manganous salt. More specifically this invention pertains to a critical order of dissolving such salt and elemental bromine and to the use of an anti-oxidant for the manganous ion to prevent its conversion to hydrated manganous dioxide: MnO(OH).sub.2. According to "A Comprehensive Treatise On Inorganic And Theoretical Chemistry", J. W. Mellor, Vol. XII at pages 189 and 259 (published by Longmans, Green and Co., 1947) hydrated manganous dioxide results from the oxidation of a solution of manganous salt with chlorine, bromine, hypochlorous acid, hydrogen peroxide, etc. Such oxidation of a solution of manganous acetate was specifically mentioned. Such hydrated manganous dioxide is described as a white solid product which upon standing in contact with air becomes a dark brown to black product identified as MnO.sub.2.

Abstract: Phthalic acids of improved quality are obtained direct from oxidation of xylenes with molecular oxygen in oxidation zone having small amounts of haloacetic acid present in liquid phase acetic acid solution of one or more heavy metal oxidation catalyst and bromide ion releasing bromine-containing compound. Particularly useful haloacetic acids are those having aqueous dissociation constant K.sub.A greater than 1.0 .times. 10.sup..sup.-3. Such quality improvement is manifested by decrease in carboxybenzaldehyde and toluic acid impurity contents and/or metal salt content.