Patent ID: 8071806

Claim:
A process for the production of vinyl acetate from acetic acid comprising: a. contacting in a first reaction zone acetic acid and hydrogen at an elevated temperature with a first catalyst composition containing a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, aluminum, chromium, zinc, palladium and mixtures thereof on a support to form an intermediate hydrogenated mixture comprising ethanol and ethyl acetate; b. reacting said intermediate hydrogenated mixture over a second catalytic composition which includes a suitable dehydrating catalyst comprising a zeolite catalyst selected from the group consisting of H-mordenite, ZSM-5, a zeolite X and a zeolite Y, and optionally said second catalytic composition includes a cracking catalyst, in a second reaction zone to form a first gaseous product stream containing ethylene; c. enriching said first gaseous product stream with ethylene at least up to 50 percent; d. contacting in a third reaction zone said enriched first gaseous product stream in combination with acetic acid and molecular oxygen in the presence of a third catalyst to form a second gaseous product stream comprising vinyl acetate; and e. separating the vinyl acetate from said second gaseous product stream.