CONTINUOUS METHOD FOR PREPARING HIGHLY PURE TEREPHTHALIC ACID Russian patent published in 2005 - IPC

FIELD: organic chemistry, chemical technology.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a continuous method for preparing highly pure terephthalic acid. Method involves oxidation of p-xylene with oxygen-containing gas in acetic acid medium in the presence of catalyst comprising heavy metal salts, such as cobalt and manganese and halide compounds under increased pressure and temperature up to the definite degree of conversion of para-xylene to terephthalic acid at the first step and the following two-step additional oxidation of prepared reaction mixture and isolation of the end product. Mixing time of reagents is <25 s, oxidation at the first step is carried out at temperature 180-200°C up to conversion degree of p-xylene 95%, not above, oxidation at the second step is carried out at temperature 175-185°C and before feeding to the third step of oxidation the reaction mass is heated to 200-260°C, kept for 8-12 min and oxidized at temperature 180-200°C in the presence of catalyst comprising Ni and/or Zr salts additionally. As halide compounds method involves using XBr or XBr + XCl wherein X is H, Na, Li followed by isolation of solid products of oxidation after the third step and successive treatment with pure acetic acid and water in the mass ratio terephthalic acid : solvent = 1:3. Invention provides intensification of process and to enhance quality of terephthalic acid.

EFFECT: improved method for preparing.

1 tbl, 1 dwg, 14 ex