Patent GB-978520-A (GB)
Title: Catalytic vapour phase oxidation of organic compounds
Inventor: NEWMAN FRANK CHRISTOPHER
IPC: C07C45/34
Filed: 1962-05-12
Abstract: Organic compounds are subjected to a process of vapour phase oxidation with molecular oxygen, which includes ammoxidation, by passage at elevated temperature over a bed of granular catalyst comprising (i) a mixture of antimony oxide with tin oxide and/or (ii) an oxygen containing compound of antimony and tin, especially antimony tetroxide in combination and/or admixture with stannic oxide, wherein at least a portion of the catalyst bed is diluted with granules of a solid inert material, e.g. a refractory material, glass beads or ball hearings, preferably a material of granular form having a particle size and density similar to that of the catalyst. Concentrations by volume, of up to 80% of the diluent may be used, 30 to 60% are especially favoured, and a modification of the process using several beds in sequence, each bed containing a different concentration of diluent is part of the invention.  The diluent concentration in any bed, in the sequential process, is less than in any preceding bed and the last bed may be undiluted.  The process is applicable to the conversion of methanol with oxygen and ammonia to hydrogen cyanide.ALSO:Organic compounds are subjected to a process of vapour phase oxidation with molecular oxygen, which includes ammoxidation, by passage at elevated temperature over a bed of granular catalyst comprising (i) a mixture of antimony oxide with tin oxide and/or (ii) an oxygen containing compound of antimony and tin, especially antimony tetroxide in combination and/or admixture with stannic oxide, wherein at least a portion of the catalyst bed is diluted with granules of a solid inert material, e.g. a refractory material, glass beads or ball bearings, preferably a material of granular form having a particle size and density similar to that of the catalyst. Concentrations by volume, of up to 80% of the diluent may be used, 30 to 60% are especially favoured, and a modification of the process using several beds in sequence each bed containing a different concentration of diluent is part of the invention. The diluent concentration is any bed, in the sequential process, is less than in any preceding bed and the last bed may be undiluted. The process is applicable to the following: conversions; propylene to acrolein and/or acrylic acid, or acrylonitrile; isobutene to methacrolein and/or methacrylic acid, or methacrylonitrile; acrolein or methacrolein to acrylic or methacrylic acids or the nitriles; butene and methylbutene to butadiene and isoprene respectively. Methanol may be converted with oxygen and ammonia to hydrogen cyanide. The two examples, which also contain comparative data outside the scope of the invention describe the conversion of propylene to acrolein and the ammoxidation of propylene to acrylonitrile.ALSO:Olefins are subjected to a process of vapour phase oxidation with molecular oxygen, to form diolefins, by passage at elevated temperature over a bed of granular catalyst comprising (i) a mixture of antimony oxide with tin oxide and/or (ii) an oxygen containing compound of antimony and tin, especially antimony tetroxide in combination and/or admixture with stannic oxide, wherein at least a portion of the catalyst bed is diluted with granules of a solid inert material, e.g. a refractory material, glass beads or ball-bearings, preferably a material of granular form having a particle size and density similar to that of the catalyst. Concentrations by volume, of up to 80% of the diluent may be used, 30 to 60% are especially favoured, and a modification of the process using several beds in sequence, each bed containing a different concentration of diluent is part of the invention. The diluent concentration in any bed, in the sequential process, is less than in any preceding bed and the last bed may be undiluted.  The process is applicable to the following conversions: butene and methylbutene to butadiene and isoprene respectively.