Liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexanone to adipic acid by air in acetic acid solution

Abstract

Abstract The liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexanone to adipic acid by air in the presence of acetic acid as a solvent and cobalt acetate or manganese acetate as a catalyst was investigated at a temperature of 60 to 100 °C, and at essentially atmospheric pressure. Succinic acid and glutaric acid were the major by‐products. Under the most suitable set of conditions (cyclohexanone, 1.2 M ; cobalt acetate, 7 × 10 −3 M ; superficial air velocity, 2.5 cm/s, temperature, 80 °C; period of reaction, 5 h), the overall conversion of cyclohexanone was 61 % and the yield of adipic acid and diabasic acids was 69.3% and 85.6% respectively.