This invention concerns a process for the production of vinyl esters of carboxylic acids with 3 to 20 carbon atoms, via vinylation in the presence of palladium (Pd) catalyst in combination with copper (Cu) as co-catalyst stabilized by organic salts in the presence of ethylene and air or oxygen.

This invention concerns a process for the production of vinyl esters of carboxylic acids with 3 to 20 carbon atoms, via vinylation in the presence of palladium (Pd) catalyst in combination with copper (Cu) as co-catalyst stabilized by organic salts in the presence of ethylene and air or oxygen.

The invention relates to a method for producing vinyl acetate, said method being characterized in that a) the gaseous product mixture leaving the reactor is cooled to a temperature of 100 C. to 120 C. using one or more heat exchangers, b) the thus obtained product mixture is supplied to a distillation column which is equipped with filling elements (pre-dehydration column), c) the pre-dehydration column head product which substantially contains wafer, vinyl acetate, and ethylene is cooled, and the condensate (head product condensate) produced in the process is separated into a water phase and an organic phase (vinyl acetate phase), which substantially comprises vinyl acetate, in a phase separator, d) at least 99 wt. % of the acetic acid contained in the product mixture is separated via the bottom of the pre-dehydration column, and the head product of the pre-dehydration column contains <0.1 wt. % of acetic acid, measured in the water phase of the head product condensate, e) the ethyl acetate contained in the product mixture is separated via the bottom of the pre-dehydration column in such a quantity that the head product of the pre-dehydration column contains <600 wt. ppm ethyl acetate, measured in the vinyl acetate phase of the head product condensate, f) 70 to 100 wt. % of the vinyl acetate phase is recirculated into the pre-dehydration column, and g) a product mixture is drawn at the bottom of the pre-dehydration column, said product mixture containing 10 to 60 wt. % of vinyl acetate.

The invention relates to a method for producing vinyl acetate, said method being characterized in that a) the gaseous product mixture leaving the reactor is cooled to a temperature of 100 C. to 120 C. using one or more heat exchangers, b) the thus obtained product mixture is supplied to a distillation column which is equipped with filling elements (pre-dehydration column), c) the pre-dehydration column head product which substantially contains wafer, vinyl acetate, and ethylene is cooled, and the condensate (head product condensate) produced in the process is separated into a water phase and an organic phase (vinyl acetate phase), which substantially comprises vinyl acetate, in a phase separator, d) at least 99 wt. % of the acetic acid contained in the product mixture is separated via the bottom of the pre-dehydration column, and the head product of the pre-dehydration column contains <0.1 wt. % of acetic acid, measured in the water phase of the head product condensate, e) the ethyl acetate contained in the product mixture is separated via the bottom of the pre-dehydration column in such a quantity that the head product of the pre-dehydration column contains <600 wt. ppm ethyl acetate, measured in the vinyl acetate phase of the head product condensate, f) 70 to 100 wt. % of the vinyl acetate phase is recirculated into the pre-dehydration column, and g) a product mixture is drawn at the bottom of the pre-dehydration column, said product mixture containing 10 to 60 wt. % of vinyl acetate.

The invention relates to a method for producing vinyl acetate, said method being characterized in that a) the gaseous product mixture leaving the reactor is cooled to a temperature of 100 C. to 120 C. using one or more heat exchangers, b) the thus obtained product mixture is supplied to a distillation column which is equipped with filling elements (pre-dehydration column), c) the pre-dehydration column head product which substantially contains wafer, vinyl acetate, and ethylene is cooled, and the condensate (head product condensate) produced in the process is separated into a water phase and an organic phase (vinyl acetate phase), which substantially comprises vinyl acetate, in a phase separator, d) at least 99 wt. % of the acetic acid contained in the product mixture is separated via the bottom of the pre-dehydration column, and the head product of the pre-dehydration column contains <0.1 wt. % of acetic acid, measured in the water phase of the head product condensate, e) the ethyl acetate contained in the product mixture is separated via the bottom of the pre-dehydration column in such a quantity that the head product of the pre-dehydration column contains <600 wt. ppm ethyl acetate, measured in the vinyl acetate phase of the head product condensate, f) 70 to 100 wt. % of the vinyl acetate phase is recirculated into the pre-dehydration column, and g) a product mixture is drawn at the bottom of the pre-dehydration column, said product mixture containing 10 to 60 wt. % of vinyl acetate.

Disclosed is a supported catalyst for the preparation of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), a process for preparing a catalyst comprising an extruded alumina support, and a catalytic process for the manufacturing vinyl acetate using the supported catalyst. Specifically, it is shown that for activated palladium-gold VAM catalysts prepared using extruded alumina supports, enhanced performance is demonstrated with increased pore volume of the support, and the gas hourly space velocity (GHSV, hr.sup.1), which was found to significantly increase the space time yield as GHSV increased as compared to the non-extruded alumina supported catalysts.

Disclosed is a supported catalyst for the preparation of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), a process for preparing a catalyst comprising an extruded alumina support, and a catalytic process for the manufacturing vinyl acetate using the supported catalyst. Specifically, it is shown that for activated palladium-gold VAM catalysts prepared using extruded alumina supports, enhanced performance is demonstrated with increased pore volume of the support, and the gas hourly space velocity (GHSV, hr.sup.1), which was found to significantly increase the space time yield as GHSV increased as compared to the non-extruded alumina supported catalysts.

Disclosed is a supported catalyst for the preparation of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), a process for preparing a catalyst comprising an extruded alumina support, and a catalytic process for the manufacturing vinyl acetate using the supported catalyst. Specifically, it is shown that for activated palladium-gold VAM catalysts prepared using extruded alumina supports, enhanced performance is demonstrated with increased pore volume of the support, and the gas hourly space velocity (GHSV, hr.sup.1), which was found to significantly increase the space time yield as GHSV increased as compared to the non-extruded alumina supported catalysts.

This invention concerns a process for the production of vinyl esters of carboxylic acids with 3 to 20 carbon atoms, via vinylation in the presence of palladium (Pd) catalyst in combination with copper (Cu) as co-catalyst stabilized by organic salts in the presence of ethylene and air or oxygen.

This invention concerns a process for the production of vinyl esters of carboxylic acids with 3 to 20 carbon atoms, via vinylation in the presence of palladium (Pd) catalyst in combination with copper (Cu) as co-catalyst stabilized by organic salts in the presence of ethylene and air or oxygen.