Cyclic method of preparing vinyl acetate

Claim 1

IN A CYCLIC METHOD FOR PRODUCING VINYL ACETATE WHICH INCLUDES THE STEPS OF (A) REACTING ETHYLENE AT A TEMPERATURE OF 50 TO 160*C. AND AN ETHYLENE PRESSURE OF 50 TO 2000 P.S.I.G. WITH AN ACETIC ACID WORKING SOLUTION OF A PALLADIUM II SALT, AN IONIZABLE METAL ACETATE AND A CUPRIC SALT OXIDIDING AGENT TO PRODUCE VINYL ACETATE PRODUCT AND BY-PRODUCT GLOCOL ACETATES AND YIELD A REDUCED WORKING SOLUTION; (B) REMOVING SAID VINYL ACETATE PRODUCT FROM THE REDUCED WORKING SOLUTION; (C) REACTING THE RESULTING RESIDUAL REDUCED WORKING SOLUTION WITH OXYGEN, WHEREBY THE SAME IS REOXID IZED FOR REUSE; AND (D) RECYCLING SAID REOXIDIZED WORKING SOLUTION TO SAID STEP (A) FOR REACTION WITH FURTHER AMOUNTS OF ETHYLENE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING RECYCLING SAID REOXIDIZED WORKING SOLUTION WITH SAID BY-PRODUCT GLYCOL ACETATES THEREIN TO STEP (A) WHEREBT SAID GLYCOL ACETATES ARE CONVERTED AT LEAST PARTIALLY TO ACETALDEHYDE SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE REACTIO OS SAID REOXIDIZED WORKING SOLUTION WITH ETHYLENE IN STEP (A).