Process for producing acetic acid
First Claim
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1. A process for producing acetic acid comprising:
- carbonylating at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of methanol, dimethyl ether, methyl acetate, and mixtures thereof, in the presence of 0.1 to 14 wt. % water, a metal catalyst, methyl iodide and iodide salt to form a reaction medium in a reactor;
separating the reaction medium into a liquid recycle and a vapor product stream including acetic acid, methyl iodide, methyl acetate and water;
condensing a first portion of the vapor product stream to form a liquid stream;
feeding a second portion of the vapor product stream to a first column;
feeding at least a portion of the liquid stream to the first column; and
withdrawing a side stream from the first column comprising an acetic acid product,wherein the liquid stream is fed to the first column above the feed of the second portion of the vapor product stream and wherein the liquid stream is fed to the first column below the point at which the side stream comprising the acetic acid product is withdrawn from the first column.
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Abstract
Process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the reaction medium is separated into a liquid recycle and a vapor product stream including acetic acid, methyl iodide, methyl acetate and water in a flash vessel. The vapor product stream is condensed into a liquid stream that is enriched in acetic acid and this liquid stream is further sent to the distillation columns to recover acetic acid. The process advantageously improves the capacity of the acetic acid production while reducing the amount of acetic acid that is recycled.
77 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for producing acetic acid comprising:
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carbonylating at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of methanol, dimethyl ether, methyl acetate, and mixtures thereof, in the presence of 0.1 to 14 wt. % water, a metal catalyst, methyl iodide and iodide salt to form a reaction medium in a reactor; separating the reaction medium into a liquid recycle and a vapor product stream including acetic acid, methyl iodide, methyl acetate and water; condensing a first portion of the vapor product stream to form a liquid stream;
feeding a second portion of the vapor product stream to a first column;feeding at least a portion of the liquid stream to the first column; and withdrawing a side stream from the first column comprising an acetic acid product, wherein the liquid stream is fed to the first column above the feed of the second portion of the vapor product stream and wherein the liquid stream is fed to the first column below the point at which the side stream comprising the acetic acid product is withdrawn from the first column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A process for producing acetic acid comprising:
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carbonylating at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of methanol, dimethyl ether, methyl acetate, and mixtures thereof in the presence of 0.1 to 14 wt. % water, a metal catalyst, methyl iodide and iodide salt to form a reaction medium in a reactor; separating the reaction medium into a liquid recycle and a vapor product stream including acetic acid, methyl iodide, methyl acetate and water in a flash vessel having an optional upper scrubbing section; condensing a first portion of the vapor product stream to form a liquid product stream; feeding a second portion of the vapor product stream to a first column; withdrawing a side stream comprising an acetic acid product from the first column; feeding the side stream to a second column; feeding at least a portion of the liquid product stream to the second column; and obtaining an acetic acid purified product from the second column, wherein the liquid stream is fed to the second column above the feed of the side stream. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification