Patent US4661624A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4661624A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the production of methyl formate
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-08-13
•
Granted: 1987-04-28
•
Expires: 2004-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A process for the production of alkyl formates such as methyl formate from the reaction of a carbon monoxide containing gas and an alkyl alcohol, such as methanol, is disclosed. The process features low conversions of alkyl alcohol to alkyl formate, high catalyst concentrations, higher reaction zone temperatures, improved process thermal efficiencies, and reduced apparatus requirements.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsuan Y. Chang
- 👤 Neil Yeoman
- 👤 Ronald F. Cascone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:55
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C67/00; C07C67/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A thermally efficient process for the production of alkyl formates comprising: preparing a CO containing gas stream having a concentration of H 2 S, COS, CO 2 and H 2 O of about one part per million of or less; reacting the CO in the gas stream with a lower alkyl alcohol in a reaction zone at a temperature from about 70° to 130° C. and a CO partial pressure of about 70 to 1000 psia, in the presence of a homogeneous sodium alkoxide catalyst to from an alkyl formate; said catalyst having a concentration in the alcohol which ranges from about 1.0-8.0 mole % of alcohol and the conversion of alkyl alcohol to alkyl formate ranging from about 2-10 mole % of the alcohol present in the reaction zone; the process being substantially free of catalyst precipitation; withdrawing an effluent stream from said reaction zone containing alkyl formate and alkyl alcohol and separating the formed alkyl formate from the alkyl alcohol in a distillation zone; recycling the alkyl alcohol containing concentrated catalyst to the reaction zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A thermally efficient process for the production of alkyl formates comprising: preparing a CO containing gas stream having a concentration of H 2 S, COS, CO 2 and H 2 O of about one part per million of or less; reacting the CO in the gas stream with a lower alkyl alcohol in a reaction zone at a temperature from about 70° to 130° C. and a CO partial pressure of about 70 to 1000 psia, in the presence of a homogeneous sodium alkoxide catalyst to from an alkyl formate; said catalyst having a concentration in the alcohol which ranges from about 1.0-8.0 mole % of alcohol and the conversion of alkyl alcohol to alkyl formate ranging from about 2-10 mole % of the alcohol present in the reaction zone; the process being substantially free of catalyst precipitation; withdrawing an effluent stream from said reaction zone containing alkyl formate and alkyl alcohol and separating the formed alkyl formate from the alkyl alcohol in a distillation zone; recycling the alkyl alcohol containing concentrated catalyst to the reaction zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the process comprises further reacting the CO containing gas stream after the reaction of claim 1 with a fresh alkyl alcohol containing about 1.0-8.0 mol % of catalyst in a second reaction zone to convert a substantial amount of unreacted CO into alkyl formate; withdrawing an effluent stream from said second reaction zone containing alkyl formate and alkyl alcohol and separating the formed alkyl formate from the alkyl alcohol in a distillation zone; further recycling the alkyl alcohol containing catalyst to the second reaction zone;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the effluents from the first and second reaction zone are passed in separate streams to a distillation zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the CO containing stream is a purified coal or heavy residual oil gasification stream.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second reaction zone is a column for countercurrent contacting of the alkyl alcohol and CO containing gas streams.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the alkyl alcohol containing catalyst streams entering the first and second reaction zones are recycle streams passed from the distillation zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the recycled alkyl alcohol stream to the reaction zone is maintained at a temperature of about 60° to 80° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the heat requirement of the distillation zone is partially provided by the effluent streams from the first and second reaction zones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the recycled alkyl alcohol stream to the second reaction zone is maintained at a temperature of about 60°-80° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heat requirement of the distillation zone is partially provided by the effluent stream from the reaction zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the CO containing stream is a syngas stream.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-04-27 | 1990-10-27 | 1991-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-27 | 1994-10-27 | 1995-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-27 | 1998-10-27 | 1999-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |