Methyl 4-methylbenzoate → Methyl 4-methylbenzoate

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A process for the production of terephthalic acid from p-xylene and methanol by way of dimethyl terephthalate obtained by oxidation, in the liquid phase with atmospheric oxygen in the presence of dissolved heavy metal compounds as the catalyst, of a mixture of p-xylene and a fraction containing predominantly methyl p-toluate, which fraction is recycled into the oxidation, to obtain an oxidation product containing primarily p-toluic acid and monomethyl terephthalate at a temperature of 140-170° C. and under a pressure of 4-8 bar; by esterification of the oxidation product in a reactor with liquid and subsequently vaporized methanol brought to an elevated pressure, at a temperature of 220-280° C. and under a pressure of 20-25 bar to obtain a raw ester containing primarily methyl p-toluate and dimethyl terephthalate; by withdrawing the raw ester fraction and a methanol-containing vapor fraction from the esterification reactor; by distillatory separation of the raw ester into a methyl p-toluate fraction and a fraction rich in terephthalic aldehyde methyl ester, which fractions are recycled into the oxidation, a raw dimethyl terephthalate fraction, and a residual fraction; by hydrolysis of the raw dimethyl terephthalate fraction with water, obtaining the thus-formed terephthalic acid and separation of a methanol-water mixture, characterized in that the methanol-containing vapor fraction and the methanol-water mixture are separated by rectification under elevated pressure and elevated temperature into a methanol-rich head fraction and an aqueous sump phase, the methanol formed at the head of the rectification stage is withdrawn in vapor phase under elevated pressure, and esterification of the oxidation product is conducted with the methanol-containing vapor brought by compression to esterification pressure and esterification temperature.

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