Economics of Acetic Acid Production by Partial Oxidation of Ethane

Catalysts based on Mo, V, Nb mixed oxides can effect the partial oxidation of ethane to acetic acid. The process requires a pressure of about 20 atm and acetic acid selectivity is about 20%, while ethylene selectivity is about 70%. The addition of Pd to the MoVNb catalyst greatly increases the selectivity to acetic acid to about 80% and completely oxidizes CO to CO2. In this paper, the economics of acetic acid production by partial oxidation of ethane will be evaluated and compared with the carbonylation of methanol. In particular we study operating fixed bed reactors in series and in two steps. In the first step ethylene is produced and co-produced water is separated. In the second step ethylene is oxidized to acetic acid. This mode of operation increases the concentration of acetic acid leading to great saving in the product cost.