Patent ID: 7820853
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: B01J,C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for the production of vinyl acetate from acetic acid comprising: a. contacting a feed stream containing acetic acid and hydrogen at an elevated temperature with a suitable hydrogenation catalyst consisting essentially of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, platinum and palladium and at least one metal selected from copper and cobalt supported on a catalyst support selected from the group consisting of H-ZSM-5, silica, alumina, silica-alumina, calcium silicate, carbon, and mixtures thereof; to form a first gaseous product stream comprising ethyl acetate b. enriching said first gaseous product stream with ethyl acetate to at least 50 mole percent; c. contacting in a second reaction zone said enriched first gaseous product stream obtained in step (b) at an elevated temperature with a suitable cracking catalyst to form a second gaseous product comprising a mixture of ethylene and acetic acid; d. contacting in a third reaction zone said second gaseous product obtained in step (c) in combination with a second feed stream comprising molecular oxygen and optionally additional amounts of acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst to form a third gaseous product stream comprising vinyl acetate; and e. separating the vinyl acetate from said third gaseous product stream.