Esterification process using extractive separation to produce feed for hydrogenolysis

摘要

Disclosed herein are processes for alcohol production by reducing an esterification product, such as ethyl acetate. The processes comprise esterifying acetic acid and an alcohol such as ethanol to produce an esterification product. The esterification product may be recovered using an extractive separation. The esterification product is reduced with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a crude reaction mixture comprising the alcohol, in particular ethanol, which may be separated from the crude reaction mixture.

主权项

1. A method of producing ethanol comprising:
esterifying acetic acid and ethanol in a first reaction zone to produce an esterification product comprising ethyl acetate, ethanol, and water; separating at least a portion of the esterification product in an extractive column using at least one extractive agent to yield an extractant comprising ethyl acetate, less than 6 wt. % ethanol and less than 5 wt. % water, and a raffinate comprising ethanol and water; separating at least a portion of the raffinate in a distillation column to yield a distillate comprising ethanol and ethyl acetate, and a residue comprising water; and reacting at least a portion of the extractant with hydrogen in a second reaction zone to produce ethanol.