PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conveniently obtain an α-oxocarboxylic acid in a good yield at a low cost by the gas phase reaction of α-oxoaldehyde and/or α-hydroxyaldehyde with water in the presence of oxygen.;SOLUTION: By the gas phase reaction of (preferably 1-5 vol% of) α- oxoaldehyde (e.g. glyoxal, pyruvaldehyde, etc.), and/or α-hydroxyaldehyde (e.g. glycolaldehyde, 2-hydroxypropanal, etc.), with (preferably 5-80 vol% of) water in the presence of (preferably 0.5-10 vol% of) oxygen preferably at 150-500°C, an α-oxocarboxylic acid (e.g. glyoxylic acid, etc.), is obtained. The reaction preferably is conducted in the presence of a catalyst containing at least one of oxide containing at least one of group Ia-IIa elements or the like. Water is reacted in a molar ratio of ≥4 based on the α-oxoaldehyde and/or α- hydroxyaldehyde.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2001,JPO
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