Patent ID: 7855303
Filing Date: 2010-12-21
Classification: C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for the production of vinyl acetate from acetic acid comprising: a. contacting in a first reaction zone a feed stream containing acetic acid and hydrogen at an elevated temperature with a suitable hydrogenating catalyst, which is effective to hydrogenate acetic acid to ethylene, said hydrogenation catalyst being selected from the group consisting of copper supported on iron oxide, cobalt supported on H-ZSM-5, copper-aluminum catalyst, copper-zinc catalyst, copper-chromium catalyst, and nickel catalyst to form a first gaseous product stream comprising ethylene, wherein the conversion of acetic acid to ethylene is at least 10%; b. enriching said first gaseous product stream with ethylene at least up to 50 percent; c. contacting in a second reaction zone said enriched first gaseous product stream obtained in step (b) in combination with a second feed stream comprising acetic acid and molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalyst to form a second gaseous product stream comprising vinyl acetate; and d. separating the vinyl acetate from said second gaseous product stream.