Eastman looks to syngas feedstocks
15 Jan 2000
Researchers from Eastman Chemical are developing a new process to make methyl methacrylate from syngas. The process, being developed in collaboration with Bechtel and the Research Triangle Institute, could help improve the environmental profile of acrylics.
The process still at a laboratory stage begins by reacting carbon monoxide from syngas with ethylene to give propionic acid. This is then reacted with formaldehyde to give methacrylic acid, which is esterified with methanol to give methyl methacrylate. Two catalysts are used a molybdenum-based homogeneous catalyst for the first step, and a heterogeneous niobium acid-base species for the second.
Current processes to make methyl methacrylate involve a reaction between cyanohydrin and concentrated sulphuric acid. There are a plethora of hazards associated with this. Cyanohydrin is made by reacting acetone with hydrogen cyanide, which is notoriously toxic; and the process produces bisulphite wastes, which are classified as hazardous.
* Eastman is also working on a process to convert carbon monoxide and ethylene oxide into a polyester with similar properties to PET. Research, still at a very early stage, is being carried out at the University of Florida.
