Process for producing heteroaromatic carboxylic acids

1. A process for the production of a heteroaromatic carboxylic acid wherein the heteroaromatic is a pyridine ring or a pyrimidine ring, the process comprising contacting, in the presence of an oxidation catalyst comprising one or more heavy metal compounds, an alkyl-substituted heteroaromatic compound with an oxidant to form said heteroaromatic carboxylic acid, such contact being effected with said alkyl-substituted heteroaromatic compound and the oxidant in an aqueous solvent comprising water under supercritical conditions or near supercritical conditions close to the supercritical point, wherein said one or more heavy metal compounds are selected from the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, vanadium, chromium, iron, molybdenum, cerium, zirconium, hafnium and nickel.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein said contact is effected within a continuous flow reactor.

3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the contacting of the alkyl-substituted heteroaromatic compound occurs in a reaction zone wherein the residence time is less than 2 minutes.

4. A process according to claim 3 wherein no less than 98% by weight of the heteroaromatic carboxylic acid produced is maintained in solution during the reaction.

5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the heteroaromatic carboxylic acid has a pyridine ring.

6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the heteroaromatic carboxylic acid is nicotinic acid.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the alkyl-substituted heteroaromatic compound is an alkylpyridine.

8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the alkyl-substituted heteroaromatic compound is 3-methylpyridine.