Monsanto and Cativa processes of acetic acid synthesis

Abstract

In 1960, chemists at BASF developed the carbonylation of methanol into acetic acid. CH3 OH + CO CH3 COOH Monsanto process Monsanto Company introduced a new catalytic system in 1966. It is now known as the Monsanto acetic acid process, which operates at about 180 o C, under CO pressure of about 40 atm, using rhodium catalyst. Over six million tonnes of acetic acid are produced annually