Abstract:
Phthalic anhydride is prepared by heating trimellitic acid in the presence of certain metal catalysts such as cobalt, manganese, and cerium as either salts or in the oxide form, and bromine. The trimellitic acid and catalyst are heated and an inert gas is passed through the molten mass to produce a product containing a high concentration of orthophthalic acid which upon further heating yields orthophthalic anhydride or phthalic anhydride.