Study of catalysts on the synthesis of methyl acrylate by hydroesterification of methyl formate with acetylene

The catalytic hydroesterification of methyl formate (MF) with acetylene to methyl acrylate (MA) over nickel-based catalysts prepared by impregnation has been comprehensively studied in a fixed bed reactor at 160 similar to 240 degrees C and under 4 similar to 6MPa GHSV: 630h(-1), CO:N-2:C2H2 = 65:28:7. In present work, we have found a catalyst of 11wt%NiO/Al2O3 (80 similar to 100 mesh) prepared by wet impregnation with NiCl2 aqueous solution, then calcined in air at 500 degrees C for 5 h. The selectivity to methyl acrylate and the conversion of methyl formate over 11wt%NiO/Al2O3 catalyst are higher than other catalysts studied in this paper. The optimum reaction temperature for the hydroesterification of methyl formate with acetylene to methyl acrylate is around 220 degrees C.