Carbonylation process

1. A process for the carbonylation of dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst to produce methyl acetate reaction product which carbonylation process is conducted in the presence of hydrogen at a molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide of greater than 1 and the catalyst is a mordenite zeolite prepared from a synthesis mixture comprising at least one organic structure directing agent.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the synthesis mixture further comprises a source of silica, a source of alumina, a source of alkali or alkaline earth metal and water.

3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the synthesis mixture further comprises a source of gallium oxide (Ga 2 O 3 ).

4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the organic structure directing agent is a basic nitrogen compound.

5. A process according to claim 4 wherein the basic nitrogen compound is selected from primary amines, secondary amines, tertiary amines, salts and bases of quaternary ammonium compounds and heterocyclic nitrogen compounds.

6. A process according to claim 5 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is an aliphatic or aromatic quaternary ammonium compound.

7. A process according to claim 6 wherein the aliphatic quaternary compound is selected from salts of a tetraalkyl ammonium compound and trialkylmethyl ammonium compounds.

8. A process according to claim 7 wherein the tetraalkyl ammonium compound is a tetraethyl ammonium compound.

9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the organic structure directing agent is selected from Et 4 NBr, Et 3 NMeBr, PhCH 2 NMe 3 Br and (Et 3 N(CH 2 ) 4 NEt 3 )Br 2 .

10. A process according to claim 9 wherein the organic structure directing agent is Et 4 NBr.

11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the organic structure directing agent is removed from the zeolite prior to its use as catalyst.

12. A process according to claim 11 wherein the removal of the organic structure directing agent from the zeolite is effected by a thermal treatment.

13. A process according to claim 12 wherein the thermal treatment is calcination carried out at a temperature in the range 450° C. to 550° C.

14. A process according to claim 1 wherein the mordenite is in a hydrogen form.

15. A process according to claim 1 wherein the zeolite has the framework elements silicon, aluminium and at least one of gallium, boron and iron.

16. A process according to claim 15 wherein the zeolite has the framework elements silicon, aluminium and gallium.

17. A process according to claim 1 wherein the zeolite is composited with a binder material.

18. A process according to claim 17 wherein the binder is an alumina.

19. A process according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst is utilised in the form of a shaped body.

20. A process according to claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide is in the range 2 to 4.

21. A process according to claim 1 wherein the carbon monoxide and hydrogen utilised in the process is a synthesis gas.

22. A process according to claim 1 wherein the process is carried out at a temperature of from 200° C. to 350° C.

23. A process according to claim 1 wherein the process is carried out at a total pressure in the range 10 to 100 barg.

24. A process according to claim 1 wherein water is present at a concentration of less than 1 mol % based on the total gaseous feed to the carbonylation process.

25. A process according to claim 1 wherein methyl acetate is introduced into the process in an amount of from 0.05 mol % to 5 mol % based on the total gaseous feed to the process.

26. A process according to claim 1 wherein the process is carried out as a vapour phase process.

27. A process according to claim 1 wherein methyl acetate is recovered from the methyl acetate reaction product and some or all of the recovered methyl acetate is converted to acetic acid.

28. A process according to claim 1 wherein the process is operated as a continuous process.

29. A process according to claim 1 wherein the zeolite is prepared by a process comprising the steps:

(i) preparing the zeolite from a synthesis mixture which contains an organic structure directing agent by bringing together components of the synthesis mixture in defined proportions in water to compose a zeolite-forming aqueous synthesis mixture and hydrothermally treating said aqueous synthesis mixture to promote crystallization of the mixture to form a crystalline zeolite; recovering the zeolite from the mixture and drying said zeolite;

(ii) treating the zeolite prepared in step (i) to remove the organic structure directing agent from its structure;

(iii) treating the zeolite of step (ii) with an aqueous solution of ammonium ions;

(iv) drying the ammonium treated zeolite; and

(v) treating the zeolite of step (iv) to produce a hydrogen form zeolite.

30. A process according to claim 29 which further comprises the steps:

(vi) compositing the zeolite prepared in step (v) with an inorganic oxide binder to form a zeolite composite; and

(vii) calcining the zeolite composite.

31. A process according to claim 30 wherein prior to step (vi) the zeolite composite is formed into a shaped body.

32. A process for improving the performance of a mordenite zeolite catalyst in a process for the carbonylation of dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of the catalyst to produce methyl acetate reaction product by conducting the carbonylation process in the presence of hydrogen at a molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide of greater than 1 and the zeolite is prepared from a synthesis mixture comprising at least one organic structure directing agent.

33. A process according to claim 32 wherein the synthesis mixture further comprises a source of silica, a source of alumina, a source of alkali or alkaline earth metal and water.

34. A process according to claim 32 wherein the carbonylation process is carried out under hydrogen rich conditions.

35. A process according to claim 32 wherein the zeolite is prepared by a process comprising the steps: (i) preparing the zeolite from a synthesis mixture which contains an organic structure directing agent by bringing together components of the synthesis mixture in defined proportions in water to compose a zeolite-forming aqueous synthesis mixture and hydrothermally treating said aqueous synthesis mixture to promote crystallization of the mixture to form a crystalline zeolite; recovering the zeolite from the mixture and drying said zeolite; (ii) treating the zeolite prepared in step (i) to remove the organic structure directing agent from its structure; (iii) treating the zeolite of step (ii) with an aqueous solution of ammonium ions; (iv) drying the ammonium treated zeolite; and (v) treating the zeolite of step (iv) to produce a hydrogen form zeolite.