Acrylic acid, and methods of producing thereof
Provided herein are methods of producing acrylic acid from beta-propiolactone. Such methods may involve the use of a heterogeneous catalyst, such as a zeolite.
1. A method of producing acrylic acid from beta-propiolactone, comprising:
combining beta-propiolactone, a zeolite, and a polymerization inhibitor;
producing acrylic acid from at least a portion of the beta-propiolactone;
wherein the beta-propiolactone, the polymerization inhibitor, and the zeolite are combined neat or with a polar aprotic solvent; and wherein the produced acrylic acid has a purity of at least 95% and a yield of at least 90%.
2. The method of claim 1 , the zeolite is an acidic zeolite.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zeolite is Zeolite Y or Zeolite ZSM-5, or a combination thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymerization inhibitor is phenothiazine.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acrylic acid produced is continuously isolated.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acrylic acid is produced at a temperature of between 170° C. and 200° C.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the beta-propiolactone, the polymerization inhibitor, and the zeolite are further combined with the polar aprotic solvent.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the polar aprotic solvent comprises sulfolane.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acrylic acid produced has a purity of greater than 95%.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising isolating acrylic acid.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the acrylic acid is isolated by distillation.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting an epoxide compound with carbon monoxide to form beta-propiolactone.
13. A method of producing acrylic acid from beta-propiolactone, comprising:
contacting epoxide compound and carbon monoxide to form beta-propiolactone,
combining beta-propiolactone, a zeolite, a polymerization inhibitor, and a polar aprotic solvent;
producing acrylic acid from at least a portion of the beta-propiolactone;
wherein the epoxide compound comprises ethylene oxide; and wherein the produced acrylic acid has a purity of at least 95% and a yield of at least 90%.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the zeolite comprises Zeolite Y, and the solvent comprises sulfolane.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the epoxide compound comprises ethylene oxide.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprises stripping off at least a portion of the acrylic acid produced.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the beta-propiolactone, the polymerization inhibitor, and the zeolite are combined neat.