Patent ID: 7727928

Claim:
A process for the production of acetic acid and ethylene from a gaseous mixture comprising ethane and optionally ethylene, which process comprises contacting in a reaction zone the gaseous mixture with a molecular oxygen containing gas at elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst composition, which catalyst composition consists of the elements molybdenum, vanadium and niobium, optionally tungsten and a component Z and optionally component Y, in combination with oxygen, wherein a, b, c, d, e and f represent the gram atom ratios of the elements Mo, W, Z, V, Nb and Y respectively, such that: 0<a≦1; 0≦b<1 and a+b= 1; 0.05<c≦2; 0<d≦2; 0<e≦1; and 0≦f≦2; wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of Ge, Sn and Pb, and Y is selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Ta, B, Al, Ga, In, Pt, Zn, Cd, Bi, Ce, Co, Rh, Ir, Cu, Ag, Fe, Ru, Os, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ni, P, Si, Tl, U, Re, La, Ti, Hf and Zr, said elements being supported on a support, and wherein acetic acid and ethylene are produced in a ratio in the range of 0.8:1 to 1.2:1.