| abstract |
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of aromatic carboxylic acid, comprising oxidizing, in the liquid phase, an aromatic feed compound containing at least one acyl or alkyl group with a gas containing molecular oxygen, in the liquid phase. a solvent comprising a low molecular weight aliphatic carboxylic acid, and in the presence of a heavy metal oxidation catalyst, thereby obtaining a mixture containing an oxidation reaction product comprising an aromatic carboxylic acid; after which, the mixture containing the oxidation reaction product is heated to a temperature of about 500 ° F (260 ° C) or greater, to form a second mixture containing the product; the aromatic carboxylic acid then being recovered from this second mixture. The process of this invention provides a purer, larger particle size aromatic carboxylic acid product. |