Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing acetic acid from ethane and oxygen on a fixed bed catalyst, characterized in that a reactor cascade with an oxygen feed between the reactor levels is used. This particularly advantageous method provides high conversion rates, highly pure acetic acid and low ethylene and carbon monoxide formation.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for selectively preparing acetic acid from a gaseous feed of ethane, ethylene or mixtures thereof, as well as oxygen, at an increased temperature, on a catalyst which contains the elements W, X, Y and Z in the gram-atom ratio a:b:c:d, associated with oxygen. In the formula WaXbYcZd (I), X stands for one or several elements selected from the group Pd, Pt, Ag and/or Au; Y stands for one or several elements selected from the group V, Nb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Sn, Sb, Cu, Zn, U, Ni and/or Bi; Z stands for one or several elements selected from the group Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, Ti, Zr, Hf, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, B, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Si, Ge, Pb, P, As and/or Te; a equals 1, b is a number higher than 0, c is a number higher than 0, and d is a number from 0 to 2. Also disclosed is said catalyst.