Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for purifying and recovering a contaminated catalyst solution which is obtained in the carbonylation of methyl acetate and/or dimethylether, the catalyst solution containing carbonyl complexes of noble metals of group VIII of the Periodic System of the elements, quaternary heterocyclic aromatic nitrogen compounds or quaternary organophosphorus compounds as organic promoters, undistillable organic contaminants as well as acetic acid, acetic anhydride and ethylidene diacetate.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for making acetic anhydride, wherein methyl acetate and/or dimethylether is (are) reacted with carbon monoxide under substantially anhydrous conditions, at temperatures of 350 to 575 K and under pressures of 1 to 300 bars in the presence of a catalyst system comprised of noble metals belonging to group VIII of the periodic system of the elements, or their compounds and iodine and/or its compounds. More specifically, an aliphatic carboxylic acid with 1 to 8 carbon atoms and at least one heterocyclic aromatic compound, in which at least one hetero atom is a quaternary nitrogen atom are used as promoters.

Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of carboxylic acid halides. To this end, an alkyl halide having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aryl halide is reacted with carbon monoxide under practically anhydrous conditions at temperatures of 350 to 575 K. and under pressures of 1 to 300 bars in the presence of a catalyst system containing at least one of the noble metals selected from rhodium, palladium, iridium or their compounds, iodine and/or its compounds, methyl trialkyl phosphonium iodide and/or methyl triaryl phosphonium iodide, and optionally trialkyl phosphine oxide or triaryl phosphine oxide as well as an inert organic solvent. More specifically, the reaction mixture is admixed with 0.02 to 0.75 mol of hydrogen per mol of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making acetyl chloride by reacting methoxy chloride with carbon monoxide under practically anhydrous conditions, at temperatures of 350.degree. to 575.degree. K, under pressures of 1 to 300 bars, and in the presence of a catalyst system containing at least one of the noble metals selected from rhodium, palladium, iridium or their compounds, iodine and/or its compounds and optionally trialkylphosphine oxide or triarylphosphine oxide, as well as an inert organic solvent. The invention provides more specifically for the reaction to be effected in the presence of a catalyst system containing n-heptane as the inert solvent and as additional ingredients methyltrialkyl phosphonium iodide and/or methyltriarylphosphonium iodide and at least one compound of chromium, molybdenum or tungsten.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of anhydrous alkyl iodides. To this end, carboxylic acid alkyl esters of the formula R.sup.1 COOR.sup.2, in which R.sup.1 stands for hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl radical having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 stands for an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, are reacted with iodine and hydrogen and optionally with carbon monoxide in the presence of compounds of noble metals comprised of rhodium, iridium, palladium or ruthenium as catalyst, and of a heterocyclic aromatic compound, in which at least one hetero atom is a quaternary nitrogen atom, or of a quaternary organophosphorus compound as a promoter, and optionally also in the presence of a carboxylic acid having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and/or its anhydrides. The reaction is effected under practically anhydrous conditions at temperatures of from 350 to 420 K. and under a total pressure of up to 30 bars.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for making acetic anhydride by reacting methyl acetate and/or dimethylether with carbon monoxide under practically anhydrous conditions, at temperatures of 350 to 575 K., under pressures of 1 to 300 bars, and in the presence of a catalyst system containing noble metals belonging to group VIII of the periodic system of the elements, or compounds thereof, iodine and/or its compounds, and an aliphatic carboxylic acid having 1 to 8 carbon atoms. The improved process is effected in the presence of a catalyst system containing, as additional ingredients, a heterocyclic aromatic compound, in which at least one hetero atom is a quaternary nitrogen atom, or a quaternary organophosphorus compound, and a zirconium compound being soluble in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for making 1,1-diacetoxyethane by reacting methyl acetate and/or dimethylether with carbon monoxide and hydrogen under practically anhydrous conditions, at temperatures of 350.degree. to 575.degree. K., under pressures of 1 to 300 bars, and in the presence of a catalyst system containing noble metals belonging to group VIII of the periodic system of the elements, or compounds thereof, and iodine and/or its compounds. The improved process is effected in the presence of a catalyst system containing, as additional ingredients, an aliphatic carboxylic acid having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a heterocyclic aromatic compound, in which at least one hetero atom is a quaternary nitrogen atom, and a manganese or rhenium compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier-supported catalyst comprising oxides of chromium and tungsten and at least one of the oxides of molybdenum and potassium in the atomic ratio of Cr.sub.1 W.sub.0.1-0.5 Mo.sub.0-0.05 K.sub.0-0.5 on a porous carrier material, and to a process for making it.

Abstract: Alkyl acrylates free from ether are made continuously by reacting acrylic acid with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkanol, in a molar ratio of 1:1 to 1:2, in liquid phase, at 80.degree. to 130.degree. C., under 100 to 760 mm Hg, in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Abstract: 2-ethyl-hexylacrylate free from dioctylether is produced continuously by reacting acrylic acid and 2-ethyl-hexanol-(1) in a molar ratio of 1:1 to 1:2 at 85.degree. to 140.degree. C. in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier-supported catalyst comprising oxides of cobalt and phosphorus and at least one of the oxides of molybdenum and potassium in the atomic ratio of Co.sub.1 P.sub.1-2 Mo.sub.0-0.05 K.sub.0-0.5 on a porous carrier material, and to a process for making it.

Abstract: Acetic acid and acetic anhydride are produced continuously from acetaldehyde which is reacted by oxidizing it with gaseous oxygen in liquid phase in the presence of copper acylate and cobalt acylate as a catalyst and in the presence of an aliphatic carboxylic acid ester as a diluent. More specifically, the reaction is effected at temperatures of 62.degree. to 90.degree. C. over a period of less than 20 minutes with the use of the diluent and acetaldehyde in a quantitative ratio of 60:40 to 40:60; the resulting reaction products are delivered to a distilling zone in which the carboxylic acid ester and water are distilled off overhead and separated into two phases. Next, the organic phase is recycled with a reflux ratio of at least 1:1 to the distilling zone; base product accumulating in the distilling zone is delivered to an evaporating zone in which 2 to 12 parts by weight of an acetic acid/acetic anhydride-mixture as distillate are produced per part by weight of catalyst solution as base product.

Abstract: A distillation column comprising a shell which has serially arranged therein a plurality of distilling trays with respective liquid inlets and outlets. An annular slit of substantially uniform width is left between the individual trays and the shell. The slit may be interrupted by a plurality of spacers which bear against the inner surface of the shell, and the spacers are provided around the periphery of the individual trays.

Abstract: N-Butylacrylate is produced by reacting acrylic acid with n-butanol in liquid phase in contact with an acid cation exchanger as a catalyst.To this end, the acrylic acid and butanol are reacted in a molar ratio from 1:1 to 1:2.5, at 80.degree. to 130.degree. C, under a pressure from 3 to 15 atmospheres gauge, and for 20 - 90 minutes.

Abstract: Production of acrylic acid by reacting acrolein with molecular oxygen in the presence of steam and, if desired, inert gases at elevated temperature in contact with a fixed bed of cobalt molybdate catalyst prepared by precipitating cobalt molybdate from the combined aqueous solutions of a cobalt salt, of a molybdenum compound and of ammonia at a temperature of about 60.degree.C and at a pH of at most 7; filtering off, washing and drying the precipitate at a temperature of at least 100.degree.C; heating the dry cobalt molybdate for several hours at elevated temperatures, grinding and transforming it into shapes; and sintering the cobalt molybdate shapes for several hours. The acrylic acid is more particularly produced in contact with a catalyst prepared by combining the aqueous solution of the cobalt salt with that of the molybdenum compound in the atomic ratio of Co:Mo of about 1.05:1; establishing in the combined solutions a pH between 3.8 and 6.0; drying the precipitate at 110.degree.-170.degree.

Abstract: Monomeric acrylic acid is recovered from residues originating from processed crude acrylic acid and containing .beta.-acryloyloxypropionic acid, .beta.-acetoxypropionic acid, hydracrylic acid, dihydracrylic acid and polymeric hydracrylic acid. To this end, the residues are heated to temperatures within the range 130.degree. and 250.degree.C under pressures within the range 0.01 and 1 atmosphere absolute in contact with catalysts selected from alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carboxylates, phosphates or borates, or from alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compounds producing carboxylates together with the carboxylic acids being contained in the residues.