How to convert acetylene to acetic acid

How to convert acetylene into acetic acid: chemical reaction and industrial application

Acetylene (C₂ H₂) is an important organic chemical raw material, which is widely used in chemical industry, synthetic materials and medicine. The conversion of acetylene to acetic acid is a common reaction process in the chemical industry, which can not only effectively utilize acetylene resources, but also produce chemicals with important market demand. This article will analyze in detail how to convert acetylene into acetic acid, involving its reaction principle, industrial process and application.

Acetylene to acetic acid basic reaction principle

The conversion of acetylene to acetic acid is mainly achieved by hydrogenation and oxidation of acetylene. Acetylene (C₂ H₂) first undergoes a catalytic hydrogenation reaction to produce ethylene (C₂ H₂), and then the ethylene reacts with oxygen under the action of a catalyst to produce acetic acid (CHL≡COOH).

Specifically, acetylene is first hydrogenated with hydrogen in the presence of a suitable catalyst (e. g., palladium, nickel, etc.) to hydrogenate acetylene to produce ethylene. Ethylene then reacts with oxygen in an oxidation reaction to eventually produce acetic acid. This process requires the right temperature, pressure and catalyst support to be efficient and stable.

Acetylene to acetic acid industrial production method

In industrial production, acetylene is converted to acetic acid by two main methods: catalytic hydrogenation of acetylene and oxidation of ethylene. Among them, the ethylene oxidation method is the most common method. The specific industrial production process is usually as follows:

1. Hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene Acetylene and hydrogen undergo a catalytic reaction at high temperature and high pressure to produce ethylene. This reaction requires precise control of temperature and pressure to prevent side reactions. Commonly used catalysts include metal catalysts such as palladium, platinum and nickel.

2. Ethylene oxidation to acetic acid Next, the obtained ethylene gas is reacted with oxygen at a high temperature to produce acetic acid. The catalyst used in the reaction is generally a molybdenum or vanadium catalyst, which can catalyze the reaction at a relatively low temperature and make the oxidation process efficiently. In this process, the selection of catalyst and the optimization of reaction conditions are very important, which directly affect the yield and purity of acetic acid.

Acetylene to acetic acid catalyst selection

The choice of catalyst plays a decisive role in the conversion of acetylene to acetic acid. For acetylene hydrogenation, palladium (Pd) or nickel (Ni) are commonly used catalysts, which can effectively promote the hydrogenation of acetylene. Palladium catalysts are particularly suitable for highly selective hydrogenation reactions, which can reduce the formation of by-products.

In the ethylene oxidation reaction, the selection of catalysts is more complicated, and metal oxides such as molybdenum (Mo) and vanadium (V) are usually used as catalysts. These catalysts can provide higher activity at lower temperatures and promote the reaction of ethylene with oxygen to form acetic acid. The stability and high temperature resistance of the catalyst are also very important considerations in industrial applications.

Acetylene to Acetic Acid Market Prospects and Challenges

The conversion of acetylene to acetic acid has broad application prospects in industry. Acetic acid is an important chemical raw material, which is widely used in the production of synthetic acetic acid, plastics, solvents and other products. Therefore, the demand for conversion of acetylene to acetic acid continues to grow, especially in the global chemical market, where acetic acid is a huge market demand.

There are also challenges in this process. Acetylene is a flammable and explosive gas, and its reaction conditions must be strictly controlled in industrial production. The selection of catalysts and the optimization of reaction conditions require a large amount of research investment to ensure high yield and low cost of acetic acid. As technology advances, catalyst innovation and process optimization are expected to further reduce costs and improve production efficiency.

Conclusion: How to convert acetylene into acetic acid industrial significance

How to convert acetylene into acetic acid is a crucial technical problem in the chemical industry. Acetylene can be efficiently converted to acetic acid through catalytic hydrogenation and oxidation, which plays an important role in modern chemical production. In the future, with the further development of catalyst technology and process optimization, the process of acetylene conversion to acetic acid will be more efficient, environmentally friendly, and can meet the growing market demand.