| abstract |
The present invention relates to a process for preparing methyl methacrylate by direct oxidative esterification of methacrolein with oxygen and methanol, which is carried out in the liquid phase at pressures from 2 to 100 bar using a gold-containing catalyst. According to the invention, the liquid phase is continuously withdrawn from the reactor and optionally enriched with oxygenous gas, and the pH, after withdrawing, is adjusted to a value between 5 and 9 by adding a basic solution and this liquid phase is transported back to the reactor again by at least 50%. [See Figure 1] |