Progress of Acetic Acid Manufacturing Technology

Abstract

Acetic acid, an important chemical intermediate, is produced commercially by one of three routes, acetaldehyde oxidation, liquid-phase hydrocarbon oxidation, and methanol carbonylation. Among them, the low pressure carbonylation of methanol, developed by Monsanto Co., has been highly appreciated in view of bright success of C1 chemistry. The history of acetic acid industry is reviewed, and the progress of acetic acid manufacturing technology is discussed. © 1983, The Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan. All rights reserved.