Distillation process for production of acrylic acid
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for converting beta propiolactone to acrylic acid, comprising:
- (a) a reaction zone comprising beta propiolactone, a solvent, and a polymerization catalyst,wherein the reaction zone is a reactive distillation column configured to (i) operate at or above the pyrolysis temperature of poly(propiolactone), (ii) concurrently polymerize the beta propiolactone to poly(propiolactone) in the presence of the polymerization catalyst and thermally decompose the poly(propiolactone) to acrylic acid, and (iii) output a distillation stream comprising the solvent; and
(b) a return loop configured to return a portion of the acrylic acid to the reaction zone;
wherein the reaction zone includes a single reactor, which is the reactive distillation column; and
a nanofiltration membrane is located upstream of the reactive distillation column for catching catalyst and allowing the beta propiolactone and tetrahydrofuran to pass when the tetrahydrofuran is used as the solvent.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Provided are integrated processes for the conversion of beta propiolactone to acrylic acid. Systems for the production of acrylic acid are also provided.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A system for converting beta propiolactone to acrylic acid, comprising:
-
(a) a reaction zone comprising beta propiolactone, a solvent, and a polymerization catalyst, wherein the reaction zone is a reactive distillation column configured to (i) operate at or above the pyrolysis temperature of poly(propiolactone), (ii) concurrently polymerize the beta propiolactone to poly(propiolactone) in the presence of the polymerization catalyst and thermally decompose the poly(propiolactone) to acrylic acid, and (iii) output a distillation stream comprising the solvent; and (b) a return loop configured to return a portion of the acrylic acid to the reaction zone; wherein the reaction zone includes a single reactor, which is the reactive distillation column; and a nanofiltration membrane is located upstream of the reactive distillation column for catching catalyst and allowing the beta propiolactone and tetrahydrofuran to pass when the tetrahydrofuran is used as the solvent. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A system for producing acrylic acid, comprising:
-
a beta propiolactone source; a polymerization catalyst source; and a reactor comprising; at least one inlet to receive beta propiolactone in a solvent from the beta propiolactone source and a polymerization catalyst from the polymerization catalyst source, at least one outlet to output an acrylic acid stream and a distillation stream comprising the solvent, wherein the reactor is one pot configured to (i) polymerize the beta propiolactone to produce poly(propiolactone) in the presence of the polymerization catalyst at or above the pyrolysis temperature of poly(propiolactone), (ii) concurrently thermally decompose the poly(propiolactone) to produce acrylic acid in the one pot, (iii) output the acrylic acid stream, and (iv) output the distillation stream; wherein the solvent comprises tetrahydrofuran and the system includes a nanofiltration membrane to catch the catalyst but allow the beta propiolactone and the tetrahydrofuran to pass through. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification