Production of acrolein or acrylic acid from iso-propanol with high yeild and low cost
Acrolein is produced by selectively oxidizing iso-propanol over a first mixed metal oxide catalyst in the presence of oxygen in the vapor phase. The first mixed metal oxide catalyst comprises oxides of molybdenum and bismuth. Acrylic acid is produced by selectively oxidizing the acrolein over a second mixed metal oxide catalyst in the presence of oxygen in the vapor phase. The second mixed metal oxide catalyst has a different composition from the first mixed metal oxide catalyst.
1 . A method comprising:
selectively oxidizing iso-propanol over a first mixed metal oxide catalyst in the presence of oxygen in the vapor phase to produce a first product comprising acrolein wherein a mass ratio of propionic acid to acrolein is less than 0.002, and
selectively oxidizing the first product over a second mixed metal oxide catalyst in the presence of oxygen in the vapor phase to produce a second product comprising acrylic acid, wherein the second mixed metal oxide catalyst has a different composition from the first mixed metal oxide catalyst;
wherein the first mixed metal oxide catalyst comprises oxides of molybdenum and bismuth, and wherein the second mixed metal oxide catalyst comprises oxides of molybdenum and vanadium.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second mixed metal oxide catalyst further comprises at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of tungsten, copper, iron, antimony, and phosphorus.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first mixed metal oxide catalyst further comprises at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, and nickel.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the oxygen is present in the form of purified oxygen, air, or lattice oxygen of the mixed metal oxide.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the iso-propanol is produced from biomass-derived feedstock.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the acrolein has a ratio of 14 C: 12 C of at least 0.5×10 −13 .
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a mass ratio of propionic acid to acrylic acid is less than 0.001.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein selectively oxidizing the iso-propanol occurs in the presence of steam.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein selectively oxidizing the acrolein occurs in the presence of steam.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising recovering acrolein by one or more techniques selected from absorption using water or an organic solvent, extraction, fractional distillation, and melt crystallization.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising recovering acrylic acid by one or more techniques selected from absorption using water or an organic solvent, extraction, fractional distillation, and melt crystallization.