Process for preparing carboxylic acid by oxidation

Claim 1

IN THE PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS WHICH COMPRISES OXIDIZING IN THE LIQUID PHASE A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF PARA-DI-ISOPROPYLBENZENE, PARA-XYLENE, TOLUNE, CUMENE, MESITYLENE, ORTHOXYLENE, META-XYLENE, METHYL NAPHTHALENE, METHYL PYRIDINE, BENZYL BENZOATE, METHYL-PARA-TOLUATE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, BENZALDEHYDE, PARA-TOLUIC ACID, ETHYL BENZENE, NPROPYL BENZENE, BETA-METHYL-N-PROPYL BENZENE, DIPHENYL ETHANE, ORTHO- AND PARA-CHLOROMETHYL AND BROMO-METHYL TOLUENES, PARA- AND META-CHLORO-TOLUENE, PARA- AND META-TOLUENE SULPHONAMIDES, PARA- AND META-CRESYL BENZOATES, PARA-TOLUENE SULPHONIC ACID, METHYL PARA-TOLU ENE SULPHONATE, PARA-TOLUAMIDE, PARA-NITRO-TOLUENE, CYCLOHEXANE, CYCLOHEXENE, METHYL CYCLOHEXANONE, AND BETAPIONALDEHYDE, N-BUTYRALDEHYDE, CYCLOHEXANONE, AND BETABETA''-DICHLORODIETHYL ETHER, WITH A GAS CONTAINING FREE OXYGEN IN THE PRESENCE OF A BROMIDE CATALYST CONTAINING A HEAVY METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF COBALT AND MANGANESE, AT FROM AMBIENT TEMPERATURE UP TO ABOUT 300*C. AND AT A PRESSURE FROM ATMOSPHERIC UP TO ABOUT 200 ATMOSPHERES, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH CONSISTS ESSENTIALLY OF CONDUCTING SAID PROCESSES IN A REACTION ZONE WHICH PRESENTS SURFACES OF SUBSTANTIALLY PURE TITANIUM METAL, TO THE LIQUID AND GASEOUS PHASES THEREIN.