Patent ID: 6620948
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the production of maleic anhydride, which comprises:reacting a hydrocarbon with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst to produce a reaction gas containing maleic anhydride; recovering maleic anhydride from the reaction gas with the resulting formation of a remaining gas; recovering unreacted hydrocarbon from the remaining gas with the resulting formation of an exhaust gas; and returning the hydrocarbon thus recovered to the reactor for re-use, wherein the concentration of maleic anhydride in the reaction gas is not less than 2 vol % and the oxygen concentration A (vol %), hydrocarbon concentration B (vol %) and carbon monoxide concentration C (vol %) in the exhaust gas after recovering unreacted hydrocarbon at the hydrocarbon recovering step satisfy the following requirements: 0Dâˆ’35.35D2âˆ’E, where D=CB+C&it;â€ƒandE=100A/(100âˆ’Bâˆ’C).