ABSTRACT
Millennium Petrochemicals, Inc., I I 530 Northlake Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45249
Abstract Rhodium catalyzed carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid is typically carried out at high reactor water concentration due to catalyst activity and stability limitations. High reaction rates and low catalyst usage can be achieved at low reactor water concentration by the introduction of tertiary phosphine oxide additives. The success of these additives results from their ability to replace water as a means of maintaining the rhodium in its catalytically active form.
