Monsanto process

The Monsanto process is an industrial method for the manufacture of acetic acid by catalytic carbonylation of methanol.[1] The Monsanto process has largely been supplanted by the Cativa process, a similar iridium-based process developed by BP Chemicals Ltd, which is more economical and environmentally friendly.

This process operates at a pressure of 30–60 atm and a temperature of 150–200 °C and gives a selectivity greater than 99%. It was developed in 1960 by the German chemical company BASF and improved by the Monsanto Company in 1966, which introduced a new catalyst system.[2]

  1. ^ Hosea Cheung, Robin S. Tanke, G. Paul Torrence "Acetic Acid" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2002, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a01_045.
  2. ^ "Production method: The Monsanto process". www.greener-industry.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2014-08-11. Retrieved 2014-08-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)