Patent ID: 6342628
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the production of vinyl acetate, said process comprising the steps of:(a) introducing ethylene, acetic acid and an oxygen containing gas into a reactor; (b) reacting said ethylene, acetic acid, and oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst material in said reactor to produce vinyl acetate at above atmospheric pressure; (c) withdrawing from said reactor gases comprising unreacted ethylene, vinyl acetate, carbon dioxide by product and an inert gas; (d) recovering from the gases withdrawn from said reactor, unreacted ethylene optionally together with minor amounts of said carbon dioxide and inert gas; and (e) introducing the recovered ethylene from step (d) and additional ethylene to said reactor in step (a) wherein the amount of ethylene in the combined feed to the reactor is above 60 mol %, and up to 85 mol %.