| abstract |
1. IN A CARBONYLATION PROCESS WHEREIN AT LEAST ONE REACTANT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF AN OLEFIN, AN ALCOHOL, AN ESTER DERIVATIVE OF SAID ALCOHOL, A HALIDE DERIVATIVE OF SAID ALCOHOLAND AN ETHER DERIVATIVE OF SAID ALCOHOL IS REACTED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE IN A LIQUID PHASE IN A REACTION ZONE AND IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYST SYSTEM THAT CONTAINS (A) A RHODIUM OR IRIDIUM COMPONENT, AND (B) AN IODINE OR BROMINE COMPONENT, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES PASSING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE LIQUID REACTION MASS TO A SEPARATION ZONE WITHOUT THE ADDI TION OF HEAT, SAID SEPARATION ZONE HAVING A PRESSURE OF AT LEAST 20 P.S.I. LESS THAN THE PRESSURE IN SAID REACTION ZONE, TO VAPORIZE AT LEAT A PORTION OF THE CARBONYLATION PRODUCTS, WITHDRAWING THE VAPORIZED CARBONYLATION PRODUCTS AND RECYLING THE REMAINING LIQUID REACTION MASS TO SAID REACTION ZONE. |