Thermolysis of polypropiolactone to produce acrylic acid
First Claim
1. A process for producing acrylic acid from a feed stream containing polypropiolactone, the process comprising:
- a. passing the feed stream to a decomposition chamber of a thermolysis process vessel;
b. maintaining an active salt comprising sodium acrylate in the decomposition chamber of the thermolysis vessel at a predetermined concentration range wherein a portion of the active salt is removed from the decomposition chamber;
c. contacting the feed stream with the active salt in the decomposition chamber at thermolysis conditions and converting at least a part of the feed stream to acrylic acid;
d. withdrawing a product stream comprising acrylic acid; and
e. recovering at least a portion of the acrylic acid from the product stream wherein the decomposition chamber has an active salt concentration in the range of 0.02 to 10 wt %.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to reactor apparatus and processes for thermolysis of polypropiolactone to produce highly pure acrylic acid. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the processes comprise introducing a feed stream comprising polypropiolactone to a thermolysis process vessel through an inlet; maintaining a concentration of active salt by adding and removing portions of active salt by at least one inlet and at least one outlet; heating the thermolysis process vessel; and recovering a product including acrylic acid from an outlet. In certain preferred embodiments, the active salt may be present as a catalyst used for polymerization of the polypropiolactone in the feed stream. In some embodiments, one or more active salts may be added to the feed stream and/or the thermolysis process vessel.
49 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A process for producing acrylic acid from a feed stream containing polypropiolactone, the process comprising:
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a. passing the feed stream to a decomposition chamber of a thermolysis process vessel; b. maintaining an active salt comprising sodium acrylate in the decomposition chamber of the thermolysis vessel at a predetermined concentration range wherein a portion of the active salt is removed from the decomposition chamber; c. contacting the feed stream with the active salt in the decomposition chamber at thermolysis conditions and converting at least a part of the feed stream to acrylic acid; d. withdrawing a product stream comprising acrylic acid; and e. recovering at least a portion of the acrylic acid from the product stream wherein the decomposition chamber has an active salt concentration in the range of 0.02 to 10 wt %. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification