Patent ID: 7468455
Filing Date: 2008-12-23
Classification: B01J,C07C

Abstract:
1. A method of making vinyl acetate, comprising: providing a reaction channel comprising a catalyst-containing reaction zone; passing ethylene, acetic acid and dioxygen into the reaction channel; wherein the ethylene, acetic acid and dioxygen react to form vinyl acetate monomer; wherein at least 30% of the ethylene is converted to products; wherein at least 95% of the ethylene that is converted to products, is converted to vinyl acetate monomer or carbon dioxide; wherein the ethylene selectivity to carbon dioxide is 10% or less; wherein at least 60% of the dioxygen is converted to products; and wherein at least 40% of the acetic acid is converted to products; and wherein the above-described conversions and selectivities are obtained in a single pass through the reaction channel; and wherein the reaction zone is adjacent to a heat exchanger; and further wherein the reaction zone has a ratio of heat transfer surface area to reaction zone volume of 1.6 cm