Process for the carbonylation of dimethyl ether

1. A process for the production of methyl acetate which process comprises the carbonylation of a dimethyl ether feed with carbon monoxide under substantially anhydrous conditions, in the presence of a zeolite catalyst effective for said carbonylation, wherein said carbonylation is carried out at a temperature in the range of 275 to 350° C. and at a pressure in the range of greater than 10 barg to 100 barg.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the temperature is in the range 300 to 350° C.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the pressure is in the range greater than 10 barg to 80 barg.

4. A process according to claim 3 wherein the pressure is in the range 15 to 80 barg.

5. A process according to claim 4 wherein the pressure is in the range 30 to 80 barg.

6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the carbonylation is carried out in the presence of hydrogen.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the zeolite contains at least one channel which is defined by an 8-member ring.

8. A process according to claim 7 wherein the zeolite is selected from the group consisting of mordenite, ferrierite, offretite and gmelinite.

9. A process according to claim 8 wherein the mordenite is H-mordenite or is ion-exchanged or otherwise loaded with at least one metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, iridium, silver, rhodium, platinum, palladium and cobalt.

10. A process according to claim 9 wherein the mordenite is ion-exchanged or otherwise loaded with a metal selected from copper, silver and mixtures thereof.

11. A process according to claim 10 wherein the metal loading is in the range 50 to 120 mol % relative to aluminium.

12. A process according to claim 1 wherein at least some of the methyl acetate product is hydrolysed to acetic acid.