Reactive distillation process and plant for obtaining acetic acid and alcohol from the hydrolysis of methyl acetate

摘要

A method and plant for obtaining acetic acid and methanol from the hydrolysis of methyl acetate by reactive distillation is disclosed. The reactive distillation column is configured as a divided wall reactive distillation column (1). A feed containing water and methyl acetate are brought into contact with a catalyst in a reactive space (19) to perform the hydrolysis of water and methyl acetate to methanol and acetic acid. The reactive space comprises at least a first rectification zone (32), a first stripping zone (34) and a first reaction zone (33). A catalyst is provided in the first reaction zone (33). The column further comprises a product space (29) with at least a second rectification zone (42) and a second stripping zone (44). The second stripping zone (44) shares at least a portion of the column sump (38) with the first stripping zone (34). A first head product is discharged from a reactive space head portion (45) and a bottom product is discharged from the column sump (38) and a second head product is discharged from a product space head portion (46) and an intermediate product is discharged from the product space (29).

主权项

1. A method for obtaining acetic acid and methanol from the hydrolysis of methyl acetate by reactive distillation in a reactive distillation column having a pre-reactor, the reactive distillation column being configured as a divided wall reactive distillation column including a column head, a column body, a first reflux conduit, a second reflux conduit, and a column sump with the column body being arranged between the column head and the column sump, the column further comprising a wall arranged in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the column, said wall dividing the column into a reactive space and a product space, wherein the reactive space comprises at least a first rectification zone and a first reaction zone, with a hydrolysis catalyst provided in the first reaction zone, and the first rectification zone is arranged between the column head and the first reaction zone, the column further comprising a first stripping zone, with the first stripping zone being arranged between the column sump and the first reaction zone, wherein the product space comprises at least a second rectification zone and a second stripping zone, wherein the second stripping zone shares at least a portion of the column sump with the first stripping zone, the method comprising: providing a pre-reactor feed containing methyl acetate to a pre-reactor, discharging a first feed containing water and methyl acetate from the pre-reactor to the reactive distillation column, providing the first feed containing water and methyl acetate to the reactive space, bringing the feed into contact with the hydrolysis catalyst, at least partially hydrolysing the feed to acetic acid and methanol, discharging a first head product from a reactive space head portion, recycling a portion of the first head product via the first reflux conduit to the reactive space, discharging a bottom product from the column sump, discharging a second head product from a product space head portion, recycling a portion of the second head product via the second reflux conduit to the product space, and discharging an intermediate product from the product space.