Real time ReactIR studies of high pressure oxidation of arylalkanes

I&EC 149

Chicheng Ma, macc@ku.edu1, Richard S. Givens, rgivens@ukans.edu2, Daryle H. Busch, busch@ku.edu3, and Bala Sabramaniam1. (1) Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, University fo Kansas, 1501 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, KS 66047, (2) Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, 5023 Malott Hall, Lawrence, KS 66045, (3) Chemistry Department, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047
Among Co catalyzed oxidation reactions, one of the most important substrates, in terms of the volume of material consumed and economic impact, is the oxidation of p-xylene to terephthalic acid (TPA), the precursor to PET plastics, etc. Real-time kinetic analysis of the course of this reaction is complicated by the reaction conditions of high pressure and temperature and the low solubility of the TPA product in the reaction media. ReactIR overcomes many of these difficulties and has permitted the monitoring of the reaction over a sufficient time period to determine kinetic parameters for oxidation. From these studies along with investigations of initiators, other substrates, co-catalysts and other reaction parameters, we have been able to probe the mechanism for oxidations using Co catalysts with molecular oxygen. These results and further studies on other substrates will be presented.
 

In Situ Spectroscopic Monitoring in Process Development and Production, Sponsored by Novel Chemistry with Industrial Applications Sub-Division
8:30 AM-12:00 PM, Wednesday, 13 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Room 252/254, Oral

Division of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006