Method for making isobutyric acid

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A method for continuously reacting propylene and carbon monoxide in a hydrogen fluoride catalyst to produce in the, presence of water or an alcohol isobutyric acid or an ester, thereof, by introducing hydrogen fluoride a liquid reagent, and, a gaseous reagent into a first reaction chamber of a loop-type bubble column, conducting the low-density reaction mixture containing gas bubbles upwardly through a second reaction zone into a third reaction chamber wherein gas emerges from said reaction mixture to form a continuous gas phase and a more dense reaction mixture, and then conducting said continuous gas phase and more dense reaction mixture downwardly back to said first reaction chamber.