Acrylic acid is a very useful chemical, which can be polymerized to form polyacids or esterified to form acrylates. Most acrylic acid is produced commercially from propylene. The production of acrylic acid from propane would be more economical because of lower cost of the propane feedstock. The oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene followed by the oxidation of propylene to acrylic acid can be accomplished in one pass with a single catalyst in the presence of oxygen and steam. One drawback of this process is the accumulation of carbon monoxide, which is produced as a byproduct. The carbon monoxide builds up in the recycle stream and has to be removed from the process, which can be costly and difficult. Thus, a catalyst that effectively oxidizes propane to acrylic acid and minimizes the accumulation of carbon monoxide in the recycle stream would be very beneficial. A catalyst that effectively oxidizes carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, which is more readily removed from the recycle stream, while simultaneously converting propane to acrylic acid will be discussed.

Dual function partial oxidation catalyst for the propane to acrylic acid process

247th National Meeting (2014)

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