The reactor unit comprises of a reactor, a condenser and a G-L separator. The raw
materials p-Xylene, air, acetic acid (solvent) and the catalyst (cobalt) are fed continuously
into the reactor. The reactor is maintained at a temperature of 150ºC and a pressure of
1500 kPa – 3000kPa. The air is added in greater stoichiometric ratio to minimize the
formation of byproducts. The heat of reaction is removed by condensing and refluxing
acetic acid. The reflux stream passes through the G-L separator where the excess air is
removed and the liquid refluxed back into the reactor. The residence time of this reaction
varies from 30 minutes to 3 hours. More than 95% of p-Xylene is converted to product.
The outlet from the reactor is a slurry, since it is soluble to a limited extent in the solvent
used.