JPS6413049A - Production of carboxylic acid - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable advantageous production of carboxylic acid by adding a halogenated hydrocarbon to a reaction mixture of carboxylation of an olefin with water and carbon monoxide in the presence of a sulfuric acid-containing catalyst and using again the separated catalyst as well as the aqueous phase collected after addition of a specific amount of water to the catalyst phase. CONSTITUTION:i) An olefin is allowed to come into contact with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a catalyst containing sulfuric acid. ii) the reaction mixture is treated with a halogenated hydrocarbon to transfer at least a part of the reaction product into the hydrocarbon phase, resulting in separation into the catalyst phase and the hydrocarbon phase. iii) The latter phase is treated with water in an amount less than the volume which has been consumed in the process ii) to transfer at least the sulfuric acid in the hydrocarbon phase into the aqueous phase, then the hydrocarbon phase is separated from the aqueous phase and carboxylic acid is obtained from the hydrocarbon phase. iv) Further, the catalyst phase separated in process ii) is diluted with the aqueous phase in process iii) and reused to produce carboxylic acid advantageously.