Patent ID: 7211688

Claim:
A process for the production of an alkyl carboxylate which process comprises the steps: (a) contacting in an oxidation reaction zone a C 2 to C 4 alkane, a molecular oxygen-containing gas, the corresponding alkene and optionally water, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the oxidation of the alkane to the corresponding alkene and carboxytic acid, to produce a first product stream comprising alkene, unreacted alkane, carboxylic acid and water; (b) separating in a first separation means at least a portion of the product stream produced in the oxidation reaction zone into a gaseous stream comprising alkene and unreacted alkane and a liquid stream comprising carboxylic acid and water; (c) separating by chemical treatment at least a portion of the gaseous stream obtained from the first separation means into respective streams rich in alkene and alkane; said chemical treatment comprising the steps of: (1) contacting the alkene/alkane gaseous stream with a solution of a metal salt capable of selectively chemically absorbing the alkene to produce a chemically absorbed alkene-rich liguid stream, and (2) recovering an alkene rich stream from the metal salt solution; (d) contacting in a second reaction zone at least a portion of said alkene rich stream obtained from the second separation means and a corresponding carboxylic acid, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the production of alkyl carboxylate to produce a second product stream comprising alkyl carboxylate.