Patent ID: 7166742

Claim:
A process to manufacture vinyl acetate in a fluid-bed reactor containing feed stream inlets and gas outlets, in which mixtures comprising ethylene and acetic acid and an oxygen-containing gas are contacted with a particulate fluid-bed catalyst, comprising: (a) introducing feed to the reactor in more than one inlet such that a feed stream primarily containing ethylene, acetic acid, or a mixture thereof does not contain oxygen within flammability limits, and such that a feed stream primarily containing an oxygen-containing gas does not contain hydrocarbons within flammability limits: (b) controlling the amount of oxygen entering the reactor such that the outlet gas mixture is outside flammability limits; and (c) recovering vinyl acetate, wherein the amount of particulate catalyst including inert fluidizable particulates present in the fluid bed reactor is maintained at a level sufficient to allow for dissipation of heat generated during the reaction, and wherein the total amount of oxygen employed is higher than may be used without danger of flammability, if all feed streams were combined and the concentration of oxygen in the combined gaseous feeds entering the reactor is at least 9 volume percent.