A process for producing carboxylic acids by carbonylation of alkanols over a carbon catalyst

Alkanols are reacted with carbon monoxide to form carboxylic acids at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a halide-promoted solid carbon catalyst. High yields and selectivity (especially of acetic acid from methanol) together with extended catalyst life are achieved as a result of conducting the carbonylation in the presence of at least 1 ppm of cobalt, ruthenium, iron, nickel, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium or platinum. These transition metals can either be added as soluble compounds thereof, or can be derived from the walls of a cobalt or nickel alloy reactor.