PROCESS FOR REDUCING EMISSIONS OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS FROM THE KETONIZATION OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS

摘要

Disclosed is a process for reducing the emission of volatile organic compounds that are produced during the ketonization of carboxylic acids to ketones. The ketonization of carboxylic acids produces a gaseous by-product stream containing carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds. This gaseous by-product stream can be fed to a direct-fired furnace used to heat the ketonization reaction feed streams where the volatile organic compounds are destroyed by combustion in the furnace. The carbon dioxide stream further acts as a diluent for the fuel to the furnace.